Working with this little beauty of an image. But I'm a little stuck - not sure to keep it in bw or if I should go silvertone?
Any idea or suggestions on how to improve this image would be much appreciated?
Thanks :)
Been through a few rounds of editing. Has darkened the sky to emphasize the clouds a bit more. Halos around mountain top removed. Thanks Silver Efex Pro for adding more work :)
Also removed the blue'ish color cast - see image from comments.
I think that I'm almost done. I'll just let the image marinate a bit - then have a final look.
Thanks a lot for comments 👍
Nice image. You might make it a side by side beauty contest with the Silvertone. Also, it looks like you used a linear gradient to darken the sky. You might try masking the sky, leave the clouds white, and pull the slightly dark sky closer to the horizon line. I think it would give the image sort of an Ansel Adams feel. Just some thoughts. The image is worth working with.
Hi Robert. Thank you for your time to leave a comment. Yes, you're right - i used a linear gradient to darken the sky. I'll give the masking technique a shot.
Excuse my ignorance, Marcelo, but what do you mean by silvertone? Even after Googling, I'm mystified.
It's a fine image, but that gradient does make the sky look a bit unnatural. Also, I gather you want a fairly dark mood here, but the twin shadows at lower left are a bit blocked up, losing some detail, and detracting slightly from the image. I'd open up the shadows slightly - but it's your image!
Hi Chris,
When I mentioned silver tone I was referring to how you used to print in the old days. Using Gelatin Silver photographic paper would make a huge improvement when printing out. Usually working with the texture in in the mid area, details in the shadows and grain in general. Today you can simulate that effect in most digital darkroom programs.
Thank you for some very constructive feedback :)
Thanks, Marcelo. Now I understand. Have you been a darkroom user before switching to digital? I know that many who have swear by the special qualities of the gelatin silver print.
I used to shoot slide film only, and only ever had a few Cibachrome/Ilfochrome prints made for me. I started to compile used darkroom equipment and the massive Cibachrome processor, but figured that digital would "get there first", and managed to sell it while I could before ever using it.
After four years of shooting digital, I bought an inkjet printer, and am still blown away by the quality - certainly compared to Cibachrome. I've only dabbled in black & white so far, but am becoming more interested.
What's with "The Fridge", anyway? ;-)
Hi Chris,
Not really. I used to be a graphic designer working with magazine design and I was really kind of fanatic to pick the right paper when printing.
Also I really like watching large scale print so you can observe all the minor details. Especially galleries tends to display black and white photographs on gelatin silver paper.
I regards for the name. In the "old" days, negatives were stored in the fridge, so it's just a kind reference to this thought of storing all my good images in the fridge :)
A new version without too much gradient in the sky and less blocked in the shadows. Thanks to both Robert and Chris for guiding me in the right direction.
Last I added just a hint of blue'ish to the image. Primarily color grading in the mid-tone area and color temperature.
Feedback are more than welcome.
Thanks :)
Marcelo, as the original poster, you can post this image on the left side of the page under the original. That way, viewers can scroll directly between the two images. You may need to edit the text at left as well.
The more open shadows are much better, as is the subtler sky gradient. However, it still catches the eye a bit too much, and there is a hint of a halo around the mountain in both. There are some odd changes in the clouds. The blue does it no favours for my tastes.
Hope I'm not being too picky. Meant constructively.
Hi Chris, very useful feedback ... and don't worry. Having worked as a graphic designer, I'm used to receive all kinds of feedback :)
Now back for 3rd round