Black & White Piano

MrK5 · 01-31-2011, 02:03 PM

A black and white attempt. Any improvement tips?

**smf** · 02-02-2011, 04:53 AM

I like it, but I think I'd prefer a rotation so it doesn't look like the piano is propped up at the back. (The keys are at an unusual angle.)

Ash · 02-02-2011, 08:35 PM

For image technicalities, it does alright. It's sharp, not a bad perspective (although the angle could be more accentuated) and has a nice 3D rendering. All it doesn't have is much 'pop' or life to the image. A more dramatic lighting setup may have helped here, but otherwise well done.

Gareth · 02-03-2011, 02:37 AM

I like it but I find that some of the bottom keys a little distracting so maybe if you had cropped the image down a little more it would look better? I know that'll put the hand dead centre in the frame and rule of thirds says no! but sometimes going against the grain works?

The lighting is soft, almost romantic in feeling, have you tried adjusting the levels to add some contrast and zing to the image ?

Ivan Glisin · 02-03-2011, 03:10 AM

Originally posted by MrK5

A black and white attempt. Any improvement tips?

Good composition and crop, however black & white processing is what I call "gray & gray" processing: part of tonal range was left unused (upper 20-30% on the histogram with almost no values, resulting in a dull mid-gray effect.

I made a few changes, 5 minutes in Photoshop:

1) Levels to stretch tonal range. Moved right slider down for whites, with a slight touch of gamma to make desired tone.

2) Added vignetting effect to darken somewhat distracting upper left corner and completely darkened upper right corner (to remove the triangle pointing "out" of the frame).

3) Increased local contrast by unsharp mask (USM), radius 40px, amount 15%.

4) Sharpened USM, radius 0.3px, amount 50%.

5) Added 50px white frame around. This is IMPORTANT: gives photographs some space to exist, separating them from user interface, text, buttons, links, or other design elements NOT under your control. I always recommend adding a simple frame (white or black) with NO other effects.

The result:

Name: pianist.jpg
Views: 1852
Size: 49.7 KB

Name: pianist.jpg
Views: 1852
Size: 49.7 KB

MrK5 · 02-03-2011, 04:00 AM

Thanks Ivan. This looks great. I'll try to reproduce this in Lightroom.

MrK5 · 02-03-2011, 04:07 AM

A quick change in levels using Flicker and Picknik

MrK5 · 02-03-2011, 03:06 PM

Final version so far:

01-31-2011, 02:03 PM	#1
MrK5 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 28	Piano Lens: Sigma 30 mm Camera: Pentax k5 Photo Location: Norway ISO: 3200 Shutter Speed: 1/60s Aperture: F2 A black and white attempt. Any improvement tips?

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02-02-2011, 04:53 AM	#2
smf Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Midland, MI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,083	I like it, but I think I'd prefer a rotation so it doesn't look like the piano is propped up at the back. (The keys are at an unusual angle.)

02-02-2011, 08:35 PM	#3
Ash Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,914	For image technicalities, it does alright. It's sharp, not a bad perspective (although the angle could be more accentuated) and has a nice 3D rendering. All it doesn't have is much 'pop' or life to the image. A more dramatic lighting setup may have helped here, but otherwise well done.

02-03-2011, 02:37 AM	#4
Gareth Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Wales, UK Posts: 763	I like it but I find that some of the bottom keys a little distracting so maybe if you had cropped the image down a little more it would look better? I know that'll put the hand dead centre in the frame and rule of thirds says no! but sometimes going against the grain works? The lighting is soft, almost romantic in feeling, have you tried adjusting the levels to add some contrast and zing to the image ?

02-03-2011, 03:10 AM	#5
Ivan Glisin Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgrade Posts: 656	Originally posted by MrK5 A black and white attempt. Any improvement tips? Good composition and crop, however black & white processing is what I call "gray & gray" processing: part of tonal range was left unused (upper 20-30% on the histogram with almost no values, resulting in a dull mid-gray effect. I made a few changes, 5 minutes in Photoshop: 1) Levels to stretch tonal range. Moved right slider down for whites, with a slight touch of gamma to make desired tone. 2) Added vignetting effect to darken somewhat distracting upper left corner and completely darkened upper right corner (to remove the triangle pointing "out" of the frame). 3) Increased local contrast by unsharp mask (USM), radius 40px, amount 15%. 4) Sharpened USM, radius 0.3px, amount 50%. 5) Added 50px white frame around. This is IMPORTANT: gives photographs some space to exist, separating them from user interface, text, buttons, links, or other design elements NOT under your control. I always recommend adding a simple frame (white or black) with NO other effects. The result:

02-03-2011, 04:00 AM	#6
MrK5 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 28 Original Poster	Thanks Ivan. This looks great. I'll try to reproduce this in Lightroom.

02-03-2011, 04:07 AM	#7
MrK5 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 28 Original Poster	A quick change in levels using Flicker and Picknik

02-03-2011, 03:06 PM	#8
MrK5 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 28 Original Poster	Final version so far:

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