It certainly can be – I tend to use my ears a lot more when walking through subways. I also try not to use my nose… 😉 Thanks for passing by and commenting 🙂
Thanks Judith – B&W works well for these sorts of scenes. I think it brings out the gritty unpleasant layer behind polite society. The underpass leads between a very smart shopping centre and a nice suburban housing area yet somehow seems to be able to be a cesspool! It’s why we carry our cameras isn’t it 🙂
Thanks Patti – not parts of London that you visited during your recent return then;-) Great to see your photos – what did you make of The Shard? Thanks for popping by, Best wishes, Martin
Thank you Theresa – I find the HDR process can introduce a fair amount of noise into an image when higher ISO’s are used. It tends to take on a grainy appearance when converted to B&W which is just what I wanted for these shots.
Thanks Jen 🙂 Try to think positive thoughts – visiting the clothes shops and having a lovely cup of coffee in Brent Cross for the first one – seeing The Christmas Lights on Regent Street for the second (it was taken not far from there) 😉
no really…my opinion your pictures are more stunning, because I’m not B&W typical photographer…I often work so hard by using software to make good photo
Ok – well, in both cases the initial photo was a colour shot but I was thinking in black & white when I took them. The subway shot was very difficult lighting so I created three different exposure versions of the RAW file in photoshop before merging them in photomatix to bring out the detail. This process also has a ‘benefit’ of adding a gritty appearance in the form of noise – potentially a problem for colour but quite a handy thing when producing Urban b&w. The second shot is a straight forward conversion with no trickery. Both shots were converted to b&w in photoshop. As part of the conversion I adjust the contrast to a level that achieves the effect that I want – the photoshop converter tends on the bland side. I then use the adjust sharpness tool – you’ll need to play with the settings in this to suit your camera / sensor combination. I’ve varied it over the years but normally use 0.7 radius and 90% as the settings currently. I think the key thing to remember is that it’s your work of art – there is no right or wrong, only what you want to achieve with the shot. Hope this helps 🙂
Great contrast! I like the black and white photos – sometimes they bring out more drama and detail to a photo and creates a different perspective.
There’s always something captivating about B&W photos & these are great. I especially like the darkness of the 2nd one.& the contrast f the car light. I am left wondering what that bloke’s up too. I wonder if Barry & Cedric are lurking somewhere there…
Thanks Tony – If Barry and Cedric like Chinese food then they certainly should be lurking. The guy is shuffling the waste bins behind a Chinese restaurant 🙂
Thank you – I take photos for a web project called Geograph and that has required me to go into alleys quite often. Alleys are a place of real and superstitious fear for people but I guess I have become used to them…
Thanks pix & kardz – yes, missed you 🙂 But I suspect you’re finding it hard to keep up the same as me! I used to be able to go through all the entries on the weekly photochallenge but now there are so many (over 400 each week) that I just can’t do it 😦 I owe you a visit 🙂
Images from Finchley 
A great representation of the light at the end of the tunnel, for sure. It indeed shows GREAT contrast. Good job. 🙂
Thank you Marcy 🙂
Great pictures!
Thank You 🙂
Very well done.
Thank you Rommel 🙂
Both photos are really good. I like black and white, the contrasts are striking.
Thank you Maggie – I felt that B&W was the way to go with this one but I need to find the time now to see what others have been coming up with 🙂
the city view … thanks martin … i get a bit lost out here in the bush!
Hi Christine – LoL – I’m sure you don’t miss the city that much 😉
very nice!
Thank you eeryweerywoe 🙂
Nothing like the contrast in B&W photos . . . with wet pavement glistening. 😀
Thanks Nancy – yes, a bit of dampness at night can help a lot 🙂
Terrific entries for this week’s challenge.
Thank you Colline 🙂
Love the first photo! It must be welcoming to see the light at the end of a dark tunnel.
It certainly can be – I tend to use my ears a lot more when walking through subways. I also try not to use my nose… 😉 Thanks for passing by and commenting 🙂
Wow, those certainly are startling contrasts, accented strongly by the black and white —
Thanks Judith – B&W works well for these sorts of scenes. I think it brings out the gritty unpleasant layer behind polite society. The underpass leads between a very smart shopping centre and a nice suburban housing area yet somehow seems to be able to be a cesspool! It’s why we carry our cameras isn’t it 🙂
very nice contrast and reflexions!
Thank you Cedric 🙂
Love the saturation of contrast and atmosphere in these shots Martin!
Thanks Patti – not parts of London that you visited during your recent return then;-) Great to see your photos – what did you make of The Shard? Thanks for popping by, Best wishes, Martin
Really cool shots Martin!
Thank you Margie 🙂
The black and white really dramatizes the pictures. great take on theme..;)
Thanks Gerry 🙂
You are welcome..;)
Gorgeous photos Martin! The black and white contrast is exquisite, and the HDR is amazing!
Thank you Theresa – I find the HDR process can introduce a fair amount of noise into an image when higher ISO’s are used. It tends to take on a grainy appearance when converted to B&W which is just what I wanted for these shots.
Well done!
Thank you Rick 🙂
You really did a beautiful job on these..AWESOME!
Thank you Suzanne – I didn’t have to sneak up on them like your Coyote 😉
Whoa! The atmospheres you’ve created in these are knock-your-socks off good, Martin…
spectacular! Both of ’em!
🙂
That’s very kind Bob. I am fortunate in that London provides many such opportunities 🙂
great photos but makes you feel like another dreary tired night lol after a hard days work xxjen
Thanks Jen 🙂 Try to think positive thoughts – visiting the clothes shops and having a lovely cup of coffee in Brent Cross for the first one – seeing The Christmas Lights on Regent Street for the second (it was taken not far from there) 😉
perfect….those are awesome black & white picture…could you teach me how to do it ? LOL 😀
LoL – Just took a look at your entry… You don’t need any help from me 🙂 Thanks very much for your kind comment 🙂
no really…my opinion your pictures are more stunning, because I’m not B&W typical photographer…I often work so hard by using software to make good photo
Ok – well, in both cases the initial photo was a colour shot but I was thinking in black & white when I took them. The subway shot was very difficult lighting so I created three different exposure versions of the RAW file in photoshop before merging them in photomatix to bring out the detail. This process also has a ‘benefit’ of adding a gritty appearance in the form of noise – potentially a problem for colour but quite a handy thing when producing Urban b&w. The second shot is a straight forward conversion with no trickery. Both shots were converted to b&w in photoshop. As part of the conversion I adjust the contrast to a level that achieves the effect that I want – the photoshop converter tends on the bland side. I then use the adjust sharpness tool – you’ll need to play with the settings in this to suit your camera / sensor combination. I’ve varied it over the years but normally use 0.7 radius and 90% as the settings currently. I think the key thing to remember is that it’s your work of art – there is no right or wrong, only what you want to achieve with the shot. Hope this helps 🙂
Great contrast! I like the black and white photos – sometimes they bring out more drama and detail to a photo and creates a different perspective.
Thanks Fergiemoto – I think B&W is a handy medium for this sort of work. It does concentrate the eye on the detail more 🙂
There’s always something captivating about B&W photos & these are great. I especially like the darkness of the 2nd one.& the contrast f the car light. I am left wondering what that bloke’s up too. I wonder if Barry & Cedric are lurking somewhere there…
Thanks Tony – If Barry and Cedric like Chinese food then they certainly should be lurking. The guy is shuffling the waste bins behind a Chinese restaurant 🙂
Great pictures. The lights in the black & white background is looking so beautiful and stylish. Great post. 🙂
Thanks Arindam 🙂
i need to start remembering black and white!! I love the starkness of it! great show of contrast!!
Thank you Karen – Sometimes B&W can really bring out the grace and elegance of flowers so you should find some good uses for it 🙂
Amazing photograph and excellent metaphor for our times – we never want to look in the alley 🙂
Thank you – I take photos for a web project called Geograph and that has required me to go into alleys quite often. Alleys are a place of real and superstitious fear for people but I guess I have become used to them…
a bit late stopping by – but these are great clicks.
really like the b&w effect.
thanks for sharing.
Thanks pix & kardz – yes, missed you 🙂 But I suspect you’re finding it hard to keep up the same as me! I used to be able to go through all the entries on the weekly photochallenge but now there are so many (over 400 each week) that I just can’t do it 😦 I owe you a visit 🙂