B&W conversion advice

[Orinoco]

I am just learning how to convert a colour shot to B&W and its much harder than I thought. I've admired so many great shots and would really like to know how to get that crisp clear full range of blacks to whites without the whole pic looking grey....hmmm What are the secrets PLEASE!
I tried out some instructions I found here on DPS plus some (lots) of trial and error (more error than anything) with this shot. Can someone advise how this cold become crisper. The problem I had was the sky (of course) and getting the lighthouse white enough.

Canon powershot S2IS
1/1000 @ F4.5
conversion done in CS4 with channel mixing

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3443/...9250c108_o.jpg

[OsmosisStudios]

Looks like you chose to keep the Green channel. Should have kept the Red instead.

Im actually working on a tutorial for Black and White conversions. Keep posted.

[Orinoco]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Looks like you chose to keep the Green channel. Should have kept the Red instead.

Will try again thanks

Im actually working on a tutorial for Black and White conversions. Keep posted.

Great, can't wait

[southernbelle]

I'm looking forward to that tutorial too

[star]

me too,