B&W conversion

[fightheheathens]

well, if you saw in the beginners place, i was asking questions about where to find info on how to start to use photoshop. i've gathered some stuff from here and other places on the web. I only have photoshop elements, maybe one day i'll get CS2

anywho, i'd like some info on converting to black and white.
this is my first attempt.
i did as follows,
i used benjikins method for sharpening
i applied a 100% red filter to the original and made a greyscale duplicate layer
then i did a levels layer and a brightness and contrast layer. i then burned parts of the tree trunk and dodged the clouds

and the origional

these pictures are OK to EDIT.
Im mostly just looking on ways to convert to B&W

 

[mmphoto]

looks perfect to me. i even like the B&W better than the color =)

 

[Alpha]

Hard to tell at this resolution, but it looks like you lost a bit of shadow detail.

 

[fightheheathens]

yep, deffinatly lost shaddow detail. I shot this on Slide film (velvia) and exposed for the tree and sky so i dont think i could save the shaddows. I havent figured out if i can dodge and burn in photoshop elements.

any more ideas on methods of converting to B&W?

 

[craig]

Convert to LAB. Throw out the A and B channels. Adjust using levels and curves. Convert back to Greyscale.

Love & Bass

 

[JIP]

I do think the B+W conversion is a great improvement on this shot.

 

[mysteryscribe]

I sent you what I think is a better than b&w use of this image. Sometimes you should try something different before you slip things into a cubby hole even if they still wind up in one.