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7 days in monochrome challenge


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#1
Merco_61

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I was challenged to shoot one monochrome photo every day for a week on Facebook. I don't do those chain letter challenge things, but it got me thinking.

 

Let's do this as a standing challenge without a fixed start and end.

7 days, post one shot per day.

Monochrome photos of your everyday life, no portraits and no need to explain why.

Please post basic EXIF, so others can learn from the photos. If you want to share the conversion method and some settings, that would be super.

 

My idea behind this challenge is that learning to see light and composition gets easier by shooting for a monochrome output. By making it about your everyday life, we all get used to always have the camera available.

 

Feel free to do more than one 7-day period if you want to, this could be a nice exercise.



#2
ScottinPollock

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You're on...

https://scottinpollock.us/stuff/photos/forums/9Ball.JPG

 

Camera: DC-G9
Exposure: 1/30
F Number: 1.7
ISO: 200
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Focal Length: 25.0 mm
Lens: LUMIX G 25/F1.7
SOOC Monochrome D, high grain, red filter.


#3
Nikon Shooter

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I'll join in for sure! :)



#4
Merco_61

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Here is my first:

46054032195_67525471dd_o.jpgPES_2019-02-03_10-27-04_24mm__01 by merco_61, on Flickr

 

Model: NIKON D700
Lens (mm): 24 (AF-S Nikkor 24/1.8 G ED)
ISO: 500
Aperture: 9
Shutter: 1/160

Flash to freeze the whirling snowflakes.

 

Conversion in SilverEfex Pro with Ilford PanF film emulation, blue filter, a slightly yellow paper hue and medium strength selenium toning. These are more or less my standard settings for conversion so this is probably the conversion preset I will use for the week, with the exception of the filter colour.



#5
Nikon Shooter

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During a rehearsal at school…

BgBrg%20209%20SD.jpg



#6
ScottinPollock

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Day 2: drawing a hot bath on this cold morning...

 

https://scottinpollo...forums/bath.jpg

 

Camera: DC-G9

Focal Length: 25.0 mm

Aperture: 1.7

Shutter Speed: 1/30

ISO: 1250

10 images hand held, converted and corrected in DxO PL, stacked median and aligned in Affinity Photo for motion blur.



#7
sunshine

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I'd like to join in on this one. I need something to motivate me to get the camera (and myself) out more often.  Thanks Peter!  These towers supporting electrical transmission lines reminded me of the aliens in War of the Worlds (Tom Cruise version).  I dunno why, it just popped into my head when I saw this scene.  :)

 

i-6zbsVmv-X2.jpg

 

Nikon D810, AF-S Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8

Focal Length: 170mm

Aperture: f/2.8

Shutter: 1/4000"

ISO: 64

Converted in Lightroom using B&W Orange Filter profile



#8
Nikon Shooter

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A young gymnast

C3076%20SD.jpg



#9
Merco_61

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46071446425_27ace9b5da_o.jpgPES_2019-02-04_12-13-44_24mm_A by merco_61, on Flickr

 

Model: NIKON D700
Lens (mm): 24 (AF-S Nikkor 24/1.8 G ED)
ISO: 200
Aperture: 3.5
Shutter: 1/640
Exp. Comp.: +0.7

 

Same conversion settings as yesterday, with the exception of some slight contrast boost. Information in zones 0-9.



#10
ScottinPollock

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Day 3: not sure I am happy with this one. I was planning on a "SuperBowl Aftermath" with a lot of kitchen/bar clutter, but somebody cleaned it all up. Then I walked into my office and saw...

 

https://scottinpollo...s/snowyDesk.jpg

 

Camera: DC-G9

Focal Length: 20.0 mm

Aperture: 4.1

Shutter Speed: 1/10

ISO: 200

 

It is actually a composite of two photos (one exposed on the desk and another on the windows). C&C'd in DxO, composited and tone in AP. Unfortunately I think I still torched the details in the snow.

 

Ok... here is another try (had to go back to DxO and tone down the hilights)...

 

 https://scottinpollo.../snowyDesk2.jpg



#11
sunshine

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I think you guys are way better at this than I.  I went walking around the house looking for texture and came across the firewood pile.

 

i-wVWHk47-XL.jpg

 

D810 with AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8

Focal Length: 48mm

Aperture: f/3.2

Shutter: 1/80"

ISO: 64

Converted in Lightroom using B&W 02 profile.  Applied Strong Contrast tone curve, then tweaked it a bit.



#12
Nikon Shooter

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I just realised two things…
 

1.    I don't use filters, nor presets, nor multiple softwares in my workflow

2.    7 days challenge? Perhaps I was too enthusiast there, my time table
       will possibly be limiting my ambitions

But, as long as it goes…

B8686%205D.jpg



#13
Merco_61

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The reason I use SilverEfex is that I needed something that can produce tones that are similar to finishing a silver print in the darkroom. I still shoot some film, mostly Ilford emulsions, and want a similar look from both media for digital slideshows or exhibition prints. I wouldn't be surprised if there are better tools available today, even some embedded in modern applications. As I print on Ilford baryta paper stock in the darkroom and selenium tone the prints, I need to emulate that for inkjet prints on the Hahnemüle paper I use in the Epson.

 

As I get the tone I want with a minimum of fuss, I don't try new ways of doing things. I went into some detail in the first post as people often ask about how I get these results if I don't. The filter emulations affect the rendering, just like using coloured glass filters when shooting on film does. I learned how to use filters for monochrome so long ago that it has become a part of how I compose my photos.

 

 

Mark, as you use Lightroom, have you tried playing around with the channel mixers? At least in earlier LR versions, you could get much more natural-looking monochromes that way rather than by using the stock conversion settings.



#14
Nikon Shooter

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The reason I use SilverEfex is…


You don't have to justify anything, Peter, and certainly not to me
as the first to advocate for artistic intent.

I was just realising how simplistic, unsophisticated, — not to say
primitive — my workflow is. Sure, I also virulently advocate that
Mother Nature needs no makeup on one hand and, on the other,
I'm a sucker when it comes to "theatrical" renditions.

 

Vive la différence! :P



#15
Merco_61

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My post wasn't meant to justify, only to explain some of my thinking...



#16
Nikon Shooter

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My post wasn't meant to justify, only to explain some of my thinking...


Sorry I used a wrong word… as often! 



#17
sunshine

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Mark, as you use Lightroom, have you tried playing around with the channel mixers? At least in earlier LR versions, you could get much more natural-looking monochromes that way rather than by using the stock conversion settings.

 

My "photographic journey" began just a few years ago so I do not have experience developing film.  When it comes to processing, I am still at the stage where I just try things until I like the result.  I generally do not have a particular look that I'm after.  Black and white is something I rarely tinker with, so this challenge presented an opportunity to try something new and hopefully learn something.  I just discovered that selecting a B&W profile turns on an additional section in the editing tools that does not show up for a color image.  Is this what you mean by channel mixers?  If so, no - I had not tried them until now.  I will explore.   :)

b&w

 

 



#18
ScottinPollock

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Day 4: Holy Polar Vortex, Batman!

 

http://scottinpolloc...PolarVortex.jpg

 

That railing was clean yesterday, and I just got in from shoveling three feet of snow from the driveway. Power is out (no surprise there PG&E). angry2.gif

 

Camera: DC-G9

Lens: LUMIX G VARIO 12-60/F3.5-5.6

Focal Length: 12.0 mm

Aperture: 7.1

Shutter Speed: 1/80

ISO: 200

 

DxO FilmPack - Ilford Pan F Plus 50 (for Peter)



#19
Bengan

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Peter, as you stated in your first post, I hope there will be more than one 7-day period. I'm a slow starter



#20
sunshine

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Today's selection is a shot of my son doing some final tuning on another custom bike.  The new owner is coming tomorrow to pick it up.  The bike is a 45 year old Honda brought back to life after sitting unused since 1979.  Sorry Scott - temps in the 70s (F) here in Virginia today.   :)

i-Rk5pbZ2-XL.jpg

 

D810 with AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8

Focal Length: 70mm

Aperture: f/8

Shutter: 1/100"

ISO: 250

Converted in Lightroom using a Vintage profile, then applied a Split Tone black and white preset.