I highly disagree with the way to properly add color back to a black and white image if you want it to look believable, instead of amateurish.
First of all, you can't simply take a color picture and turn it to black and white. If you've ever worked with black and white film you'll know that real black and white images are full of contrast and deep blacks and bright whites. If you want to ever turn a color picture to black and white you need to do some levels adjustments afterwords to get some nice contrast.
Then for adding color back in, usually the reason people do this is to give the image a "vintage", hand-painted look. Well when you just simply erase the black and white layer at 100% it's gonna look really corny. You have to use a really light opacity with your eraser tool or history brush or whatever method you tend to use. I usually do my tinting at 10-20% opacity, or 5% when I'm doing faces.
Here's an example of one I did of my kids a few years ago (it ended up in a national magazine a few months later when a publisher approached me lol).
Anyway, back to your discussion. The graphic designer in me had to interrupt. :lol:
I agree 101%. What a beautiful picture! Thanks for sharing. I LOVE, LOVE LOVE B&W photography still! It has so many nuances you just cannot get with color. And color has all the vibrancy of the color of the world. Both have wonderful aspects. But count me in as B&W devotee with picture taking...it is where I started in my photograhy classes back in the, er, *cough* 1970's! LOL!!!
I am enjoying these pictures by the way! Thanks to all for sharing them. TEACH ME!!!!!!!! Teach me to use the Photoshop!!! I am so overwhelmed by it! LOL!:ROFLOL::lol:
OH, BTW, thanks to all for sharing all their pics. They are cool!
