An Elm Grows In Calgary

[JAS_Photo]

This old Heritage Elm is preserved right in the middle of a huge parking lot between the Saddle Dome and the Stampede Grounds.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2440/3738386158_149a31d14e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jas_photos/3738386158/)

[tirediron]

Is this a film or digital capture? Excellent black & white.

[kat]

NIce!

[scorpio_e]

I like the texture and the composition. Too bad those pesky power lines are there. Nice b&W conversion.

[JAS_Photo]

It is digital, TI. Scorpio, I actually like the power lines, to me, they reinforce the urban-ness of the location. :) Thanks for the comments! :)

[F8&Bthere]

Wow on the black and white conversion! You don't have to share your secrets if you don't want to get into detail but I'm curious to know if it was a simple grayscale conversion that got lucky (ie. camera set to capture grayscale, or simple desaturation in PS, or clicking on grayscale-auto in Lightroom) vs a lengthy process of fine tuning in some editing program. To me, this is one of those shots that is nice but lacking impact if left colour, and really benefits from the B&W treatment. Good job!

[casil403]

This is really lovely Raiven...nice, crisp blacks and whites...it really makes the detail stand out! :highfive:

[JAS_Photo]

Thanks, Casil and F8. I did use a preset in LR. It is a really good combo of 4. Here is the link:

http://www.lightroomkillertips.com/2009/presets-better-black-and-whites/

These presets are eyepopping!

When I took the photo I was really struggling with the exposure as there was a huge difference between the tree itself and the sky. I thought I would try Nikon's active Dlighting and it did open up the leaves on the tree somewhat Also a struggle resolving the composition so that I would get the Saddle Dome in there as well and I wanted to show a contrast between the huge parking lot and this magnificent old tree. Not your typical nature shot but I am quite pleased with the result.

Here is a different view in color:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/3738384270_48485c9ffa_b.jpg

[ruleofthirds]

Thanks, Casil and F8. I did use a preset in LR. It is a really good combo of 4. Here is the link:

http://www.lightroomkillertips.com/2009/presets-better-black-and-whites/

These presets are eyepopping!

When I took the photo I was really struggling with the exposure as there was a huge difference between the tree itself and the sky. I thought I would try Nikon's active Dlighting and it did open up the leaves on the tree somewhat Also a struggle resolving the composition so that I would get the Saddle Dome in there as well and I wanted to show a contrast between the huge parking lot and this magnificent old tree. Not your typical nature shot but I am quite pleased with the result.

Here is a different view in color:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/3738384270_48485c9ffa_b.jpg

AMAZING !

I have CS3 and the video is broken on those LR Templates...
http://www.lightroomkillertips.com/installing-presets/

What are they, like Photoshop Actions?

[JAS_Photo]

AMAZING !

I have CS3 and the video is broken on those LR Templates...
http://www.lightroomkillertips.com/installing-presets/

What are they, like Photoshop Actions?

Yes, a similar thing. You can make your own presets or download others from somewhere like Preset Heaven. They are a nice shortcut. :) I do not think they work in CS3 as far as I know. To download to LR just download the preset to documents or anywhere that is convenient for you. Unzip the files and run the files. Open up LR and click on your Develop module. On the left you will see your preinstalled presets. Below that you will see 'User' presets. Right click on that and you will see import. Click on that, go to where you downloaded the preset, in this case documents, find your preset and click on it and click download. Voila! You have a cool new preset.

[jabber]

I like it--nice tones and sharpness and juxtaposition of natural/man-made. I have to agree with Scorpio about the power lines. Thanks for the tip about the presets.

[ruleofthirds]

Normally i'd totally agree. I just spent about 10 minutes taking power lines out of a shot i took last month while in BC (near Nelson). However, in this case i like the shot as is. Think it could easily pass as a vintage B&W shot. How old is the Sattledome... like 30?

[JAS_Photo]

Ha! Ha! The Saddledome was built for the '88 Olympics so only 20 something. But the tree is over 100 and the powerlines probably date from the 50's. I don't mind the powerlines at all in this case. :)

[Duane]

The powerlines are perfectly fine in this photo I think. Really well done!