Denali is a huge and beautiful mountain, visible from this close angle deep inside Denali National Park in Alaska. With such dramatic clouds and pure white mountains, black and white seemed like a good approach. It accentuates the texture of both the mountains and the sky.
I generally use Lightroom for black and white conversions. There are other software options as well, and many of them are also excellent. When using Lightroom to convert to black and white, first make the necessary modifications with the sliders for Blacks, Whites, Highlights, and Shadows. Then increase Clarity to about 30 points. Once those basic controls have been used, click on B&W in the HSL / Color / B&W box.
At this stage, you can begin experimenting with all the color sliders in the HSL / Color / B&W box. Move each slider all the way to the left and then all the way to the right to see its effect. Even though you have changed the image from color to black and white, Lightroom still sees the image in color, which is why the color sliders still have an effect.
You will be amazed how much impact the color sliders will have on the depth of the blacks and the richness of the whites. Just work the sliders until you are happy with the results. You can go for dramatic, as I did in this image, or you can be more subtle if you prefer.
So go play, and enjoy creating some beautiful black and white images!
TECHNICAL DATA
1/5000 sec, f/8, ISO 800. Canon 70-200mm lens set at 200mm on Canon 5D Mark III body. Handheld.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list." --Susan Sontag
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