exposure problems

[limr]

Why not take them in b&w to begin with?

Because DSLR in camera conversion is crude and pretty much kills contrast and deliver what is essentially a de-saturated JPEG file.
Raw files are always color files, and have more bit depth for editing headroom.

Using B&W film is a different story.

We also have much more control if we edit to black and white by controlling a range of colors rather than a range of all gray tones.

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Thank you. This answers my question.

 

[480sparky]

Okay, but if it starts out in b&w, would it be easier to then tweak in post rather than convert and then tweak? Is it not worth it to even try the shot in b&w first and see if it comes out better than the conversion? I mean, what the hell is the point of having the function on the camera if it's so useless?

If you 'just want a black & white' image, shoot in B&W mode. If you want to create an image that will look like you want it to be, then shoot color & convert in post.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I think all that green is going to turn out to be a good bit of gray... I usually look at a scene/subject and think about if there's light and dark that will work well as a B&W photo. Once you remove color you're left with the tones. I think getting a good exposure can help too.

I've done a good bit of B&W film photography and with digital images I quit using photoshop's conversion and do my own thing, I use grayscale or remove color then adjust contrast as needed. It might take you figuring out what will work best for you.

 

[skipisland]

I can buy that although my post-conversion images are far from coming out the way I want them to.

Then you just need to learn your software better.

There's a thought. However with this situation, it's not the software.

 

[skipisland]

Thank you for the information. I changed the edit photos setting. I agree there is probably not enough contrast. My only real concern is the ice storm effect.

 

[limr]

Okay, but if it starts out in b&w, would it be easier to then tweak in post rather than convert and then tweak? Is it not worth it to even try the shot in b&w first and see if it comes out better than the conversion? I mean, what the hell is the point of having the function on the camera if it's so useless?

If you 'just want a black & white' image, shoot in B&W mode. If you want to create an image that will look like you want it to be, then shoot color & convert in post.

If 'you' refers to people in general, then I can now understand the point of that. I hadn't known that RAW images were always color. But if you were speaking specifically to me, then it's kind of wasted since I generally shoot film. If I want a b&w image that will look the way I want it to be, then I'll load some good b&w film, decide my settings, and start shooting

 

[KmH]

Thank you for the information. I changed the edit photos setting. I agree there is probably not enough contrast. My only real concern is the ice storm effect.

Do a local edit on the trees.
Because of the flare from the Sun being close to the edge of the image frame the trees are somewhat over exposded which also de-saturates theor color.

I would go the other way, make the trees even whiter, and make the image look like it was made in infra-red.
When all you have is lemons, make lemonade.

 

[skipisland]

Yes, I need to do some controlled tests of trees as you suggest. Speaking of, thank you for the dof information. I downloaded the app for iPhone. I'm sure it will be very useful. Thank you again!