Excercise: Strength of interpretation

The removal of the element of colour, and with it the implication of reproducing reality, has a useful and interesting effect on processing. Basically, much more can be done in interpreting the tonal range. You can make much more aggressive changes to the overall brightness and to the contrast than would be reasonable with colour. To demonstrate this I needed to choose two images from those I already have and carry out the following:

• A strong increase in contrast that will include clipping in at least the shadow areas. A pronounced S-curve is the standard method
• Low key or high key treatment, in which the entire brightness range is shifted down or up the scale. Curves or levels are equally useful in creating this effect.

I needed to create these effects, one for each image but in two versions - in colour and black and white to see how much stronger effects can be achieved for the black and white image than with the colour.

I increased the contrast in this image, the small area of sky becoming more noticeable, the image now looks misty, the colours are still apparent but with what looks like a white film over the image

I reduced the contrast in this image, it looks like the end of the day/early evening when the light is fading, although that bit of sky tells the view it's not night time which adds a strange element to the image

With the colour removed and the contrast, brightness and tone altered the people in the image are very hard to detect but the change in contrast emphasises the trees adding a new perspective to the image

With this image the tone, brightness, contrast were all altered again but in an opposite direction to the image above. This image has an almost moonlit effect, the fact that there is no colour in the image allows the bit of sky to add to the moonlit effect. The specks of white where the people in the park can be seen also adds interest to the image.