The bedrock of Photography is black and white for showing structure, texture and form without the emotive and fashion influences of seductive or shocking colors.
B&W, is not better than color but a different investigation of subject matter, celebrating the form more than the evocative spirits of all our color sensibility and associations.
In a way, B&W goes below the coating of color to look at the heart and soul of what we see.
So how do we get B&W today, when we shoot mostly in color. Actually there is a great advantage to having representations of all the hues we can essentially swop out film types at will. Here, I am, going to select the look of Ilford Delta Preo 100 B&W film.
Nike filter collection has Silver Efex Pro, a well respected conversion package for transforming color to B&W.
Here is the original color picture of Kirstie with the out of the camera JPG, as shot in the last 20 minutes. of departing sunlight at 4 pm in Beverly hills California, No relfecters. I used the Fuji GFX with the 32-64 mm lens.
Asher Kelman: Kirstie Sunset #1
January 2018
Fuji GFX 32-64 mm
64 mm, 1/250 sec, F 5.6, ISO 800
Out of Camera JPG
Eyes, hair and lips sharpened
No filters
I downloaded a new copy of Nik Collection from DXO who now owns the program as Google, who gave it for free also, has ceased to develop or support it.
Asher Kelman: Silver Efex Pro Dialog Box
Of the conversions, the Pinhole simulation provided drama ans isolation in the space around the. model. I then selected the Ilford Delta 100 as the film type and left everything else to default settings.
Asher Kelman: Kirstie Sunset #1 - a
January 2018
Fuji GFX 32-64 mm
64 mm, 1/250 sec, F 5.6, ISO 800
Out of Camera JPG
Eyes, hair and lips sharpened
Nik Silver Efex Pro - Pinhole
Ilford Delta 100
I like the over-exposure of the pillow she is higging as it really helps with the drama and isolation of the person in the more stark milieu.
I do hope you lile this brief demonstration of the magic of Silver FX Pro.
Asher