US Union Army Sgt

[Nonacuser]

This is a re-enactment week-end every year in Wexford Ireland where armies of all Nationalities come to show their wares.
Which do you prefer???

P

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff142/bigfellow_2007/wcc2.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff142/bigfellow_2007/wcc.jpg

[icassell]

I like the B/W conversion a lot, but I'm not wild about the noise.

[Antarctican]

Ditto. I like b/w for this sort of thing as it appears more as if it's an old-time picture. But there does seem to be an aweful lot of noise. Any chance of a do-over, with less noise?

[Nonacuser]

No noise or vignette, just conversion.
Thanks for looking folks.

P

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff142/bigfellow_2007/photobeat2.jpg

[Terri]

I actually preferred the first B&W conversion. I don't like digital noise as a rule, either, but in this case (and on my monitor) this is striking me more as texture and less as digital noise.

It's striking me as a bromoil image. Bromoil is a process where a regular silver gelatin print is enlarged in the darkroom, then completely bleached out, allowed to dry, then “brought back” by brushing on stiff inks, using various stiff bristled artist's (or other) brushes. Not to hijack your thread with an insertion of one of my own images, but here is an example of a bromoil print that I made from a B&W negative a few years back:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v435/terriks/Alternative%20techniques/Stevecapgownbromoil2.jpg


The use of the brush, applying the inks by hand, adds a texture to the image very similar to your conversion here, and that is why I am finding it attractive.

With the second version, you cleared out the digital noise and softened the backroom, and it's not as visually striking. Of course, I view a lot of images that are made using alternative photographic processes, so I like certain textures, etc., to begin with.

Good stuff! :)

[Nonacuser]

Thanks Terri, I see the similarities in your grad' pic and can see why you like the method. Do you work digital at all? or is that a taboo subject:) There are a few in our camera club here in Co Wexford Ireland that use film only and digital is absolutely 'taboo':(
They're set in their ways though:tapedshut:

P

[Terri]

I think if anything becomes taboo in photography, then you're in trouble as a photographer. ;) It's about the image! People certainly have their preferences on image capture, but to close the door on what is available today is only self crippling.

I own a digital P&S, for quick snaps. I use film for anything that is probably going to be "worked" further. I have a darkroom at home, develop my own film and enlarge my own prints. I love certain alternative processes - like the bromoils, plus lith printing, hand coloring, some Polaroid manipulations and the like. So for me, film is the best medium because it helps me get where I need to go - period. I like the tactile aspect of these processes and don't want to work much on a computer, so that's another plus.

If I didn't work with these techniques, I could just as easily shoot digital, too - but I love working with film. :)

You ended up with a great image, and you got there a lot faster than I would have doing traditional bromoil. hee hee!