B&W conversion

There are a number of different ways to convert images to B&W.  It has been covered in a number of the magazines that I have read over the last 16 weeks.  My initial efforts have been within the programme that came with my camera - "Olympus Viewer 2".

As I have started to use Photoshop I have discovered that here are a number of ways of undertaking the conversion.  In an attempt to understand at least some of how this huge programme works I have purchased a copy of -
The Adobe Photoshop CS5 book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby.

I have found the book easy to follow and am pleased with the results.  The various stages are easy to follow with lots of pictures - a lot less stressful for me.

1. Open the image that you wish to work on in Photoshop.
2. Open a new adjustment layer - gradient map.  This will convert the image to B&W and reveal a grey scale.
3. Click on the greyscale itself - this should open the gradient editor.
4. Click just below the greyscale on the editor - it will reveal a stop point - double click on this to reveal a box to select stop colour.
5. Click on the colour picker to set colour range for the image.  Greyscale is on left edge. 
6. Tone range can now be adjusted in the gradient editor using the middle stop that you revealed.

Presentation Options - Final Choice?

Throughout this course I have worked with Kev, both photographing in the studio and as I have struggled to start using the Mac and Photoshop in particular.  Kev's knowledge about Photoshop has been invaluable.  As we have moved toward the final presentation of work we have also talked about alternative types of printing available.  Again, as Kev does this for a day job, his knowledge and experience have proved invaluable. 

As we talk it becomes clear that 4 colour printing could be what I am looking for.  Printers have invested in new equipment, costs for small runs have become very competitive.  My investigation about the process on the net also make it look as though it will suit the type of image and style that I have been working towards - early mornings, muted colours, mist and fog, grainy black and white.

That's it then, printing sorted, so how to present them.  I wander through various arts / stationary suppliers trying to finalise my ideas and discount a printed book type format as I will be restricted as to what I can do with it afterwards.  The option is single images printed to be presented in the requisite A3 size. 

I have seen a variety of folio presenters. 

They are good in that they can be reused.  They also come in a variety of qualities (some very cheap), colours etc.  They would certainly fit with what I am looking for.  I finally find what I am looking for in the form of a presentation book that allows you to display individual prints.  They are available in both landscape and portrait formats.  With the images that are heading to final choice Landscape is the option chosen.

Presentation - further consideration

I will be looking to present a minimum of 20 images across 2 themes.  using some of the traditional types of display will become both price and space prohibitive.  My specific choice is being narrowed to a method that will be, portable, compact, and cost will be a consideration.

The increase in digital photography has produced a much greater market for printing images, both at traditional photo shops and Internet based solutions.  I have been looking at photobooks as a method of displaying a range of photographs in a portable format.

This would certainly fit the portable and compact.  Cost can be impacted upon by a range of choices available from differing providers.  There are a variety of covers, paper weight and quality, finishes and presentation styles.  This is definitely on the shortlist for final presentation.

Presentation - consideration of differing methods.

Presentation -  Over the next couple of posts I will aim to look at a range of alternative methods for presentation of work and finalise my reasoning behind the method chosen.

Present - to offer for observation, examination, or consideration; show or display.
Presentation - the act of presenting.

A review of options on the Internet present me with a huge range of options.  Fortunate timing by "Digital Photographer" magazine, issue 104 - 2 articles that relate to this.  One is a 10 page article - "Presentation Options (present your work like a pro)" and the second giving advice about displaying photographs.  Aside from the awful sub heading this was a useful read, both for general consideration and for helping with decision making.

I was looking for too much expecting to miss something.  This is about getting your images out there in an appropriate manner.  As mentioned before think about who you want to see the images, explore options and go for it.

Following on from the way that this course has developed the easiest and most cost effective way of displaying my final choice of images would be to use the Internet and Blogger specifically.  Its cheap (free), easily accessed if you have a computer and Internet and the quality of the image can be controlled fairly well. 

As I have progressed through the course I have gone back and looked at a lot of photographs that I have taken in the past and realised how the tactile experience enhances the overall experience of viewing images.  Strange - people see with their hands.  I enjoy the social experience of sharing with friends and family.  Apart from that I just want to see what my images look like when they have been printed.

One traditional method of displaying images - paintings, prints, photographs is within a frame.  This can enhance the whole thing, giving strong boundaries and depth to the image.  Targeted at a limited specific audience - people who are in a position to be in the same place as the image.

The frame has now been developed to a range of differing products from sandwiching photographs between two sheets of acrylic to printing the image onto different medium such as canvas, block or box frames.

test for presentation work

The unit requires me to:

• Explore differing presentation methods.
• Explain final choice.
• Describe methods used.

Presentation methods will be dependant upon intended audience and the purpose of the presentation. 

Starting to explore different ways to present for different audiences. Looking at a slideshow presentation that can be used stand alone or web based.  Will provide a controlled path through images enabling the presenter to "tell a story".

Link to slideshow - low res test images

The idea is OK, however the quality of the result is poor - need to identify how to remedy - any ideas Steve?

Unit 211

"The aim of this unit is to provide the learner with the craft and visual knowledge and skills to present images for viewing coherantly, maximising the potential impact and effectiveness of the images."

Getting used to photoshop

It seemed to take ages to get this far, but it has made me use Photoshop far more than before.  Should have made the background transparent for posting on the blog so that the images stand out more.  Fairly please with the result and the practice as a learning experience.

1. Choose the images to be used and process each as required.
2. Open new document in Photoshop.  Set size to that required, background content - in this case white (should have used either transparent or set a specific background colour. Set "Show Grid" as this will help with placing the images on the new document.
3. Create new layer
4. Crop original images to size required. Copy and Paste onto the new document layer.
5. Copy each element onto a new layer - will allow each element to be moved independently from other elements of the final image.
6. Once happy with the result flatten the image and save.  This still results in a 40Mb+ file so convert to jpeg file for print / web presentation.