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Comments
Comment from richo
Time: February 28, 2008, 6:50 pm
I was just wondering if image like this is possible. You know about my thought about digital transformation. This kind of lighting is one which I took images most of the time. Tell me more how is the image quality of this shot. From what I can see in this small image there are details in dark areas. It looks very good.
So another point in digital direction for me 
-r-
Comment from dave
Time: February 28, 2008, 9:08 pm
Richo - all the information is there. It’s just a question of whether you can imagine what you want the shot to look like; and how fluent you are in Lightroom. I could show more or less detail in the shadow areas. That’s just an artistic decision.
If you want to get a good flavor for what the process is like - look at this video:
http://photoshopnews.com/stories/downloads/LRNgrayscale_STD2.mov
Comment from kjell h a
Time: February 28, 2008, 9:18 pm
What can I Say?
Really nice!
Both light and timing is prizeless in that shot.
Comment from JPH
Time: February 29, 2008, 1:02 am
Damn! After that LR tutorial, I am wanting to run out and get it! How nifty is that?!
It was interesting to see how he suggested as being the best method to work within the B&W image, is what I have always done in Photoshop when I converted a color image to B&W, by desaturating each color channel, and adjusting the lightness and darkness of the color… though definitely even more detailed with LR by also being able to adjust the color temp, and the couple other controls he showed… Wow! What control!
Though I could see oneself going absolutely mad fine tuning an image to death, tweaking and tweaking and tweaking, trying this and that, and that and this… that is until you devise your own system, and likes, personal presets, and filters that you have mentioned setting up and doing.
One question - can it only work from files directly from a digital camera, or can it be any digital file image, like from negatives scanned… as I, unlike you sounding, Mr. Beckerman, and even now Richo! Of going completely digital and dumping film… I am still far from that and have no intentions of changing from being a film only shooter…
Though, I have to honestly admit, Mr. Beckerman, seeing your digital B&W images since your kick in doing so this past month plus, and truly admiring, and being amazed at the images, certainly does throw a pretty good size rock at my traditionalist glass wall… so who knows…
Thanks for sharing your wonderful work, expertise, and experience for all of us out here to see and learn from!
Comment from dave
Time: February 29, 2008, 3:46 am
JPH - I’ve been using some of these techniques with my scanned negatives. However - remember - you actually have *much more control* over the b&w tones if the image is in color. Nevertheless - I have been printing my scanned images through Lightroom for customers making minor LR adjustments.
I try very hard to stay away from the “which is better,” arguments about film v. digital because at this point, both have their own beauty in the hands of a skilled artisan. (I suppose even that is controversial.)
As far as my own workflow, I have a general “40D preset,” that I use during the import phase as a starting point. And a couple of other presets (though the list grows) that get me closer; but there is a fair amount of mucking about that goes into the print. (But of course for me that is great fun compared to working in the darkroom).
Comment from richo
Time: February 29, 2008, 8:07 am
Dave, my question was not that much about post processing. I looked at this image and I was surprised that digital camera could actually produced decent image from such a contrast scene as this. I remember trying similar few years with Nikon D70 I was not able to produce this.
Thanks for link to video it is interested to see how LR look and how it works.
Comment from Pet Urns
Time: May 14, 2008, 11:56 pm
Love the photo, what type of camera did you use. My wife uses a Canon 30D and she loves it?
Comment from matt
Time: February 28, 2008, 5:35 pm
Bingo!