See also our previous contests

To share experience it is not enough just to show the results. We need precise step-by-step descriptions of all image editing operations that had been performed.

Photo was taken with the Canon 350D (IR modified by MaxMax.com) at ISO 200.

This photo was created using:

• RAW Developer
• EasyS Plus Sharpening Toolkit

Note: This shot was handheld and may show some motion blur

Rules:

• It is your task to convert the JPEG file to B&W using conversion tools of your choice and send in a downsampled JPEG (compression 9 in Photoshop) with 500 pixels wide.
• You can download the original JPEG image (copyright Bettina & Uwe Steinmueller) from here (about 4.2 MB)
• Use any B&W conversion technique you like (no sharpening!)
• Describe the process step by step
• Naming of the JPG: first_lastname_1305IR.jpg
• Send only the instructions and the final image downsampled to 500 pixeles wide (JPG 9 in Photoshop) and your full name to: contest@outbackphoto.com
• Image should be grayscale or in sRGB
• No sharpening or any selective techniques.
• No layers, no frames.

• Levels
• Channel Mixer (64,48,0,-8)
• Mild S-Curve

#01 Per Stavnesli

1. Convert to BW with "Virtual photographer" (Windows only)
2. Strong S-curve applied with Curvemaster in wgcmyk (maximum black. Windows only).
3. Shadow / highlight filter in photoshop(shadow only)
4. Photo Kit (punch blacks and whites)

#02 Sven Klein

- Image Mode 16 bit
- Levels
- S-Curve, Blend Mode: Luminosity
- Curves (linear), Blend Mode: Hard Light, Opacity: 30%, Blend if Underlying Layer 45/78, 255
- Gradient Map
- Channel Mixer: +90, +36, 0, -2 Monochrome
- Flatten Image

#03 Stan Bonis

1) Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer Hue=0 Sat=0
2) Levels Adjustment Layer> Adjust each Channel R,G,B for white and black point
3) Fill Layer>Color>Solid Color R=0,G=0,B=0
4) Layer>Overlay>50% Gray> Dodge and Burn white and black adjacent areas to give impression of sharpening

#04 Khristopher Roberts

1. Image converted to LAB
2. a and b channels filled with 50% black to remove color
3. Levels Applied to Lightness Channel: 31 1.00 184
4. Shadow/Highlight Applied to Lightness Channel: Shadow: 0% Highlight: 20%
5. Curves Applied to Lightness Channel: In: 28, Out: 24; In:70, Out: 80;
6. Image Converted to RGB

#05 Karel Sobota

• Image mode 16 bits
• Levels & Shadow/Highlights per channel:
  Red: 54/1/245 - Shadows 0 Highlights 55/53/99
  Green: 20/1/149 - Shadows 0 Highlights 60/47/77
  Blue: 25/1.89/142 - Shadows 0 Highlights 44/41/66
• Filter Alien Skin Exposure
  Black & White Film Kodak TMAX 3200
  *No* sharpening
• Slight S curve adjustments
• Filter Photo Filter Sepia 20%

#06 Fabio Riccardi

Processed in LightZone (here is the LZN file)

#07 C. Casana

• New Hue/Saturation layer: saturation -100 (top layer)
• New Selective color layer: neutrals: yellow +10; black +10; black: black +5 (next layer)
• New Hue/Saturation layer: reds hue +20; yellows hue +20; magentas hue -50 (next layer)
• Curves adj layer: S curve (next layer) Curve adj layer mid tones up a tad.
• Levels adj B & W points

#08 Michael Hoffman

Mode: 16 BIT
Channel Mixer: MONO R=60% B= 0% G=50%
Levels: AUTO
Gradient Map: Black to White Mode: Grayscale