We’ve all done it. Taken a photo of a great subject only to have it come out… blah. Perhaps the sky looks bland… or the fluffy clouds lack dimension… or the overall color is flat… or maybe the entire image looks washed out from the midday sun.

You’re disappointed. Annoyed. Maybe even majorly bummed.

I’ve been there — and I’ll prove it. Just check out this shot I took of the Thacher Island North Tower Lighthouse at midday. Nice subject, but the color is… blah.

"Blah" original taken in bright midday sun

Now What?

Well, if you’re in a similar situation, before you hit the Delete Key and send that image to your Trash or Recycle Bin — STOP! There is a way you can take that photo from Blah to Ahhh! From Bland to Grand! From Ordinary to Extraordinary!

To give that photo a new chance at life, all you have to do is convert it from color to Black & White. When you do, it can get you something like this…

"Ahhh!" Black & White Conversion

Quite an improvement wouldn’t you say? A totally different look and feel. Now that you can see what a difference Black & White conversion can make, you’re probably wondering what’s the best technique to use to convert a photo from color to Black & White. Nowadays it involves the use of post production software. The two most popular being Photoshop and Lightroom. There is other software available, but these two programs are what I recommend if you plan on taking your photography to the next level.

Photoshop Black & White Conversion Techniques

There is more than one way to convert a photo from color to Black & White. Every photographer has their own preferred method. The article 7 Black and White Photoshop Conversion Techniques by Andrew Gibson is a great reference source for both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements users. I encourage you to experiment with each of the different techniques and decide which one works best for you.

Light Stalking’s 18 Essential Free Photoshop Tutorials for Black and White Photography Lovers (which also happens to include the link to Andrew Gibson’s article) is another great FREE reference source.

But we all know that Photoshop is not the only great post production software made by Adobe…

Converting Images to Black & White with Lightroom

There are a lot of Lightroom users out there. Me included! Adobe TV offers two FREE video tutorials that show you how to convert images to Black & White, as well as how to add tonal overlays, edge effects, selective coloring (LR4) and film grain textures.

Lightroom 3 Users – Click here for your video.

Lightroom 4 Users – Click here for your video.

Not a Lightroom owner? No problem. You can download a Trial version from the Adobe site by clicking on the Try versus Buy in the upper right corner of their page.

What Kind of Photos Make The Best Black & White Conversions?

I’d like to say that any photo makes a great Black & White conversion. That, however, is not true. While it is possible to convert any color photo to Black & White, certain photos are far better candidates.

While color enhances the overall content of a photo, the removal of color actually gives greater focus to the subject itself. I think that is clearly shown by my two Thacher Island lighthouse photos above. Although they are the same subject, they are indeed quite different both visually and emotionally.

Color Still Matters

Color, however, is quite relevant to Black & White conversions. The type of color and its distribution within the original color image is what is actually being converted.

When considering a color photo for Black & White conversion, I evaluate it for the following:

• Subject interest
• Primary focal point
• Overall color range and distribution
• Highlights and shadows
• Texture
• Tonal contrast

If those elements are present to my liking, I move forward with the conversion. It if works — great! If not — no harm, no foul. And if I’m lucky, it scores me an Editor’s Pick!

In Conclusion…

Not thrilled with a photo you took? Don’t despair. It ain’t over ’til you give Black & White conversion a try.

~ Liz Mackney

Website

Editor’s Pick Gallery

New England Photography Guild Gallery

As a resident of Rockport, Massachusetts, I love living in this quaint coastal town. As a photographer, I simply adore it!

Rockport Harbor

Rockport is located approximately 25 miles north of Boston at the tip of the Cape Ann peninsula. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on three sides, Rockport is an ideal location for a scenic drive along the coastline. I’m happy to share with you my favorite route and to offer suggestions of things to see and places to visit.

Drive the coastline!

Let’s Get Started…

Most visitors come to Rockport via Route 128 and take it to the very end, which is the town of Gloucester, Massachusetts. From there, continue going straight to the second traffic light and then make a left onto Route 127A.

Important! The southern half of your drive will be on what’s known as Route 127A. The northern half, however, will be on Route 127. It’s important to note that these are two distinctly different route numbers right from the start.

Okay, once you make that first left onto Route 127A, you are on your way. At this point you are still in Gloucester, but in no time will be crossing over the town line into the southern end of Rockport.

Welcome to Rockport!

While traveling from south to north (Route 127A to Route 127), there are the places I think every visitor should see for themselves. Here are some suggestions…

While Traveling North Along Route 127A…

• Cape Hedge Beach - Turn right at the Cape Hedge Inn and then follow South Street to the very end. The beach will be right in front of you.
• Loblolly Cove/Thacher Island/Twin Lighthouses – Located off of Penzance Road, which is also off of South Street but immediately after the Cape Hedge Inn. You can see Thacher Island’s Twin Lighthouses from Loblolly Cove.
• Downtown Rockport – Park the car and take a stroll. The entire downtown area is walkable. Things to see include numerous shops, art galleries, restaurants, T-Wharf, Motif #1, Lula’s Pantry Viewing Deck, Rockport Harbor, Bearskin Neck, Straitsmouth Lighthouse, and the state-of-the-art Shalin Liu Performance Center.

Thacher Island at dawn from Loblolly Cove

 

Iconic Motif #1 in downtown Rockport

Mini Detour…

• Front Beach – Sea glass hunters, beach lovers and sun worshippers flock to this convenient in-town beach.
• Back Beach – A very popular location for scuba divers. Though rocky along the shoreline, as the tide goes out, more and more beach is revealed.

Sailboat Sunrise

Okay, Now North Onto Route 127…

At the end of Beach Street, make a right onto Route 127. The scenic drive north continues…

• Granite Pier – Turn right onto Wharf Road and follow the paved road down the winding hill and then up onto the dirt and gravel road of the pier for a great view of the town coastline.
• Pigeon Cove Harbor – Look for boats in the small harbor and the building with the lobster on it!
• Emerson Inn By The Sea & Cathedral Ledge – Turn right onto Phillips Ave. and follow the road down to the water. Sometimes off of Cathedral Ledge you can spot memorable waterfowl such as Mergansers, Eiders and Harlequin ducks.
• Halibut Point State Park – Hiking trails, a historic granite quarry, scenic vistas, a birders’ paradise and more!
• Lobster Pool Restaurant – End the day with a tasty lobster and enjoy a beautiful sunset at the northern end of town.

Harlequin Ducks

There you have it. An easy, straightforward drive featuring a beautiful scenic route with lots of things to see and do along the way. Makes for a perfect day trip in my book.

As for you photographers, I can tell you first hand there are photo ops everywhere you turn.

Motif #1 at midday as seen from the viewing deck at Lula's Pantry

Hope to see you around town!

~ Liz Mackney

Website

Editor’s Pick Gallery

New England Photography Guild Gallery

There’s A Full Moon On The Rise

There’s something about a full moon rising that’s simply mesmerizing. With clear skies forecasted, I really wanted to capture this month’s full moon. It was scheduled to ascend into the evening sky shortly after sunset. I knew I couldn’t ask for better lighting conditions than that. The blue hour of dusk would be the perfect backdrop to a full moon on the rise.

While the full moon was the main attraction, I did not want it to be the sole subject of my shot. What I really wanted was to showcase the full moon within a captivating setting. One that could convey a sense of drama due to the moon’s spectacular low-in-the-sky size, and one that would contrast the moon’s engaging color.

My Mind’s Eye

In my mind’s eye I wanted a coastal shot with a nautical landmark. I had just the place in mind — Thacher Island — home to the nation’s last operating twin lighthouses. Thacher Island in Rockport, Massachusetts, features all of the elements I desired for my shot — a rocky coastline, the ocean, and a lighthouse. Better yet, two of them.

Equally important was having the right vantage point from which to shoot. I would need a wide-angle view of the entire island in order to frame my shot based on the actual position of the moon’s ascent. This meant the moon needed to rise directly behind Thacher Island, preferably in close proximity to one of the lighthouses. The weather, of course, also needed to cooperate. If all of these elements were in sync, then I knew just where I needed to be to capture the event — Loblolly Cove.

Preparation Matters

Knowing what I wanted to shoot was the first step. Making it happen involved some preparation and some good old-fashioned luck.

I prepared for the event ahead of time. Starting with the obvious, I knew I wanted to shoot the April full moon rising. That meant a specific day and time — April 6, 2012 at 7:31 p.m. The weather, however, is a wild card. Cloud cover had thwarted my attempts the last couple of months. I kept my fingers crossed that it would indulge me this time around. Most importantly, I needed to know if the full moon was going to rise where it was that I desired. After all, it is a celestial body that moves. Thanks to The Photographer’s Ephemeris (TPE) program, it was easy enough to find out where the moon was going to rise. As you can see, it was in perfect alignment from my shooting location in Loblolly Cove. Lady Luck was smiling.

TPE Shows Moonrise Over Thacher Island As Viewed From Loblolly Cove

Pre-Shoot Checklist

Basically, these were (and always are) my primary considerations when shooting the full moon:

• Weather Update - Weather on the coast changes frequently. Cloud cover can totally hide the moon. Keep checking the forecast.
• Dress Appropriately - Dress comfortably to stay dry and warm. Wear shoes with a good grip. The rocks on the coast can be slippery.
• Location of Moon – It moves. Know where it’s going to be on the specific date. (See TPE bullet.)
• Shooting Location – You must be able to see the moon from your shooting location. Where you are positioned with your camera is just as important as the position of the moon. (See TPE bullet.)
• The Photographer’s Ephemeris (TPE) – A photographer’s dream tool that’s free for your computer. Better yet, there is even an app for it. I refer to it often on my iPhone. Use TPE to check the location of the moon from where you will be viewing it.
• Tide Chart – The moon’s reflection in the water can be beautiful — if the water is there. Check an area’s tide chart for its cycle. The times of high tide change daily.

Equipment Checklist

It’s important that your camera equipment be complete and ready for the shoot ahead of time:

• Camera – Make sure the camera battery is charged. Make sure you have reset your settings since your last shoot.
• Lens – Think about your shot, the focal length you need, and the low-light shooting situation. Choose your lens accordingly.
• Clean Equipment – Make sure your lens is clean. No dust or fingerprints. Make sure your sensor is clean as well. No spots.
• Tripod – A definite necessity, especially in low-light shooting.
• Shutter Release Cable – Highly recommended to further reduce possible camera shake.
• Flashlight - Walking in the dark on the rocks can be dangerous. A flashlight is a must.

Exposure 1 & Exposure 2

For this shot I needed to consider two separate exposure subjects:

• Island with lighthouse
• Moon

These two extremes each needed to be metered separately for correct exposure. As the moon began to rise, the sun had already set and light was fading fast. As the moon continued to rise, the sky became darker and darker. When I saw the first flicker of the moon, I quickly framed my shot.

To maintain proper exposure for all elements within the shot, I first exposed for the lighthouse and island. This was to keep the detail in the rocks along the coastline and in the stone used for the lighthouse. Then, while maintaining the same composition, I quickly exposed for the moon only and took a shot to capture its detail.

Post Production

I later opened the two properly exposed images in Photoshop, set them up as separate layers, and then combined them. Voila! That’s how I did it.

The “Pink Moon”

As an interesting side note, the April Full Moon is actually called the “Pink Moon.” Imagine my surprise then when the moon first appeared decidedly orange. Pink or not, it was quite a beautiful sight. As for the orange color, I discovered there is a reason for that — atmospheric pollution! As the moon continues to rise and gets further away from the earth’s pollution, it becomes whiter and whiter.

I always wondered why the moon changes color as it rises higher and higher. Mystery solved.

~ Liz Mackney

Website
Editor’s Pick Gallery
New England Photography Guild Gallery

Thacher Island is one of my favorite places to photograph. Located north of Boston and just off the coast of Rockport, Massachusetts, the island is home to the nation’s last operating twin lighthouses.

I have photographed Thacher Island many times, and no two times have been the same. Many factors have influenced what I’ve captured — especially the fickle New England weather. Other influences have included the time of day, as well as the temperament of the ocean itself. It can sure keep you on your toes!

Though I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit the island itself, which is only accessible by boat, I’ve discovered Loblolly Cove to be a special place. It has now become one of my favorite locations from which to photograph Thacher Island. I especially like it there at dawn.

Thacher Island at dawn from Loblolly Cove

Living so close to this nautical landmark is a dream come true for this photographer. Nature alone continually paints an ever-changing view of this island on a daily basis. From sunrise to sunset, the light continually changes. With the ebb and flow of the tide, the rocky coastline appears and disappears. What you see today may look totally different tomorrow. The clouds alone can create an entirely different mood.

North Tower Lighthouse

There are multiple locations along the shoreline of Loblolly Cove that offer a different perspective from which to photograph Thacher Island. From inside the cove itself you can include the rocky coast. As you walk along the rocks towards the island, the elevation will bring you both higher and closer to the island. This allows you to focus in on the North Tower if you so desire.

On this particular day, the sky was quite overcast. At daybreak, however, the pink sky broke through to create a nice palette behind the North Tower Lighthouse. That, combined with the flash of the tower’s beacon, was just what I needed to make my shot.

In a nutshell, location can really change things up. Keep looking for a new spot from which to shoot familiar places.

~ Liz Mackney

Website
Editor’s Pick Gallery
New England Photography Guild Gallery