Model Railway Forum

I am always interested to see b&w photos as I am currently building (struggling with) a box file layout using only black, white and a range of greys to make it look like an old photo.

I can tell you how to do it - I use a free prog called GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Programme) for some stuff I do, it takes a few clicks and a workflow a bit like de-saturate>curves>channels(boost red usually...)>contrast>unsharp mask (try a couple of pixels radius...).

If you use Photoshop (I don't nowadays, so this is an old pic...); there's something called History Brush you can use to layer images, a bit like this one - you could equally use to have a train in colour running through a mono landscape or vice-versa.

Lots of mucking about - this image I did in Norfolk took hours to get the brushing right at 100pc - but it's a nice effect.

Mick, the lighting will make or break the picture.

I don't know what you use to light pics but bounced flash gives you much more life-like appearance.

Otherwise you'll struggle with shadows where there shouldn't be any.

Tart it up a bit with regard to contrast/tones and should work nice regardless what colour individual elements in the picture are.

I don't use a phone to take pics but if it's what you use invest in one of those mini tripod things you can get for a tenner and check out the self-timer function (if there is one...) on your phone as you'll get a far sharper image which is key to making it look right.

Bandit Mick wrote: ↑Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:28 pm I am always interested to see b&w photos as I am currently building (struggling with) a box file layout using only black, white and a range of greys to make it look like an old photo.

Hi B M I take pictures I want to edit on my IPad. e.g.

Go to editing and then colour. Colour down to minus 100 and save.

Glencairn

On my iPad I select the picture hit edit, then the change colour icon (3 little circles in a triangle shape) and that gives me 10 tones to choose from Original colour to Noir. Magic

I'll start a photography thread in the Mess Room - how to take better pictures.

Both the colour and black and white pictures are great Glencairn, I don’t always comment on all your pictures but I ialways enjoy seeing the scenes that you create. The lighting on this picture is spot on with the shadow falling on half of the track and the wagon in full sunlight. Very nice.

Puddles

Most ambient, terrific work. I recall the days when B & W was a high art form in the silver nitrate days, and spending hours and hours
trying to get it just right.

Puddles wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 8:15 am Both the colour and black and white pictures are great Glencairn, I don’t always comment on all your pictures but I ialways enjoy seeing the scenes that you create. The lighting on this picture is spot on with the shadow falling on half of the track and the wagon in full sunlight. Very nice.

Puddles

Thank you for your comments, Puddles. Glad you like the pictures. As for the lighting? Just pure lucky. No fancy 'trickery'. A south facing bedroom with sunlight shining in through the windows.

Chops wrote: ↑Sat Jul 31, 2021 9:52 pm Most ambient, terrific work. I recall the days when B & W was a high art form in the silver nitrate days, and spending hours and hours
trying to get it just right.

I have never got into photography. Take a picture and hope for the best. I must admit I did like taking B&W pictures though.

Glencairn

Chops wrote: ↑Sat Jul 31, 2021 9:52 pm Most ambient, terrific work. I recall the days when B & W was a high art form in the silver nitrate days, and spending hours and hours
trying to get it just right.

Had a scary moment.
First started developing 16mm black and white film back in 1968 on nightwork processing the rushes ready for the morning. Mostly BBC Programmes and telerecordings. Remember opening an old can of nitrate negative that had been in the vaults for donkeys years and had not been stored very well, it had been sweating and had started to weep nitroglycerin into the can.
Very gently put it down, notified the emergency services who took it away and safely disposed it.
Puddles