B&W Challenge No. 13 - Houses

[hmca]

Thank you Simone for last month's theme and helping me decide on a theme for this month.  A reminder to our members.....Simone and I don't claim to be experts in B/W photography but we do share an interest that we hope you will explore with us.

For this month’s black and white challenge we will be looking at houses…..anything from mansions to shacks. When taking pictures of houses you will find that many of the things we have already explored in the black and white challenge are important considerations to take into account when out to shoot for this theme. Think about lines, shadows details, shape and how the light, or absence of light, works for you image. Your choices in post processing can help to create a mood for your image.

When I think of mansions I remember a trip we had taken to New Port RI. This link will take you to a page where you can see how some of these homes have been photographed.

www.terragalleria.com/black-white/america/rhode-island/newport-ri/

Some examples of shacks and cabins can be found here.


Here are a few images that I have taken recently for this theme.

Converted in SE 2:

Was drawn to the old cars as well as the grittiness of this scene.



Hoped to convey the isolation of this cabin with no near-by homes in sight.



Converted in LR with modifications to presets from Black and White Magazine:
 
Wanted to use the cloudy skies to help convey the feeling of mystery with this house.




Old, abandoned....wanted my processing to convey the same.



Hoping this is a subject that you will find easy to find.  Looking forward to seeing your B/W, monochrome or split-toned images.

[Major Major]

This is one of the small cabins on my sister's property in Maine. Processed in ON1 PhotoRaw 2018.

[pontiac1940]

A couple of old pix of old houses in southern Alberta...will post more later. 

Clive

Near Carseland .. actually closer to Mossleigh. Do not recall conversion process. There was some duff along the edges that were erased with a large, soft eraser. 


Near Vauxhall in the Oldman Valley
Layer > New adj layer > gradient map [with B&W as foreground and background].

[hmca]

Craig and Clive, thanks for getting us started. I really like finding old abandoned houses.

Your snowy one is especially appealing, Clive.

[tonyw]

Here's a local mansion built, at great expense, around 1861 that has had a checkered history in more recent times. My black and white conversion was done on ON1 Raw from a photo taken last year but for fun I've added a sepia photo from a postcard that was likely taken in the 1880's - not by me I should add but from the local heritage society collection.  I drove past today thinking of another photo but with all the leaves on the trees it's hard to see any of the house so I stuck with converting my winter shot. 





Tony

[Peterj]

Stone House at Manassas Battlefield National Park.

[hmca]

Very interesting to see how your photo compares to the original, Tony. It doesn't look like a lot has changed.....is there still a stairway on the right? Hard to tell with the tree and the slight difference in angle.

Peter.....what a beautiful setting for your house. When you have a chance could you share what you used for your B/W conversion?

[Peterj]

Aug 2, 2018 23:27:44 GMT hmca said:

Very interesting to see how your photo compares to the original, Tony. It doesn't look like a lot has changed.....is there still a stairway on the right? Hard to tell with the tree and the slight difference in angle.

Peter.....what a beautiful setting for your house. When you have a chance could you share what you used for your B/W conversion?

Thank You. This is a 3 image panorama converted to B&W using On1.

Here's a screen cap of the source images...

[tonyw]

Aug 2, 2018 23:27:44 GMT hmca said:

Very interesting to see how your photo compares to the original, Tony. It doesn't look like a lot has changed.....is there still a stairway on the right? Hard to tell with the tree and the slight difference in angle.

I was quite surprised how similar it looked because a lot has happened over the years including a fire.  The stairway has gone and I gather a lot of the interior is no more.  There is something to be said for building your house out of stone!

[L A Turner]

Nice local home built about 1910. Converted with Silver Efex.

[pontiac1940]

The Dwyer House near Cowley, Alberta. No one seems to know when it was built, but it would likely be around 1930s ... but not sure.  

Converted with Layer > New adj layer > gradient map [with B&W as foreground and background] > fiddle > fiddle. The second photo was also mildly HDRed using the ACR clarity slider. 

[fotofrank]

Thank for these Helen.

Converted to B&W using a custom B&W LUT.

[hmca]

Len, I like the diagonal path coming out from the corner and leading us to your house....nice architectural details.

Clive that's a great house to shoot at different seasons and it looks like you have nailed the perfect composition!

Frank......like the way the trees frame the entry and cast shadows on the foreground. Beautiful tonal range.

[pontiac1940]

An old house near Vauxhall, Alberta. 

This is out in the plains where you can watch your dog run away for 3 days. 

Converted with Layer > New adj layer > gradient map [with B&W as foreground and background] > fiddle* > fiddle*.
________________________________________________________________________
* fiddle: a highly technical process. 

[pontiac1940]

Remains of a log house/cabin probably built in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Near Pincher Creek, Alberta. 2017.  

Converted with Layer > New adj layer > gradient map [with B&W as foreground and background] > fiddle > fiddle.