Canal Revisited - This time highly processed B/W

I have not posted an image of the canal near work for several weeks now !

I was going to post this in colour as there is a lot of green to be seen, but then I could not resist a B/W conversion.

Took on my lunchtime walk at work and shot with my little HTC Desire Mobile phone.

I went ultra crazy on the conversion in Photoshop Elements. Converted to Infra red, then messed about with midtones, highlights and contrast settings, then went into levels and moved RGB sliders up and down.

Net result, net effect...not really sure.

I like the grasses framing the bottom and running along the canal side and there is a good diagonal running through the frame, but I don't know if that is enough to grab the interest of a discerning 365 viewer

[Robin Mersh]

I agree with you Phil. the diaghonal is good and I lke the texture of the low vegetation on the far side. the cross over of the reflection with the tall grasses ties the top and bottom together too - nice.

[Pat Knowles]

Well I'm no expert by any means.. I like it or I don't & I do ! Sounds very complicated what you did but the result is very soft & the canal merges with the greenery & reeds giving a sort of stillness!

[Juliette Packham]

the diagonal is good - it looks like the light was good for the shot - but it looks a bit blown out with the processing - wondering if you lost the tones a bit...just my thoughts - but then my thoughts are a bit skewed at the moment !! :o)

[Kerri]

Wow! Love it

[Frances Chaloner]

It has a beautiful delicacy about it, I had a look on the spy glass and it really shows this well. A most interesting shot.

[Sue Wilde]

Even the B&W looks green...Such a luscious shot.

[Catherine]

Great lighting! Loving your B&W series, Phil!

[Judith Greenwood]

I think you've made it look like a hot dreamy summer's day - clearly you weren't in cold autumnal CAmbridge!

[Phil Howcroft]

@robinmersh thanks Robin, I'm still not keen on my converson

[Phil Howcroft]

@judithg thanks Judith, it was a nice warm day on Monday :)

[Phil Howcroft]

@cath thanks Catherine, I do like B/W , but don't really do enough of it on my 365

[Phil Howcroft]

@swilde thanks Sue, nice use of the word luscious :)

[Phil Howcroft]

@whippeteer thanks Frances, I think I went OTT on the conversion, I'm going to make Tuesdays pic the original colour pic

[Phil Howcroft]

@sparkle Juliette, thanks for your comments, I think you are right about the blown out bits, I think they are a result of photographing on a little mobile rather than a high end compact or DSLR

[Phil Howcroft]

@happypat thnks Pat, I am plesed 'You Do' :) , stillness describes the scene well :)

[Allison Williams]

I like the diagonal line with light on one side and shadows on the other. Like you, I have played around with contrast and other settings and after awhile I lose my ability to distinguish one result from another. Rather frustrating.

[Eva Needham]

I just love B&W. Good shot

[Frances Chaloner]

@phil_howcroft You can never go OTT on processing! The great thing about digital is that it is easy to do another version. My iphone library is stuffed full of "versions" :-) Each one is a great learning process for me, like a chemistry experiment and such fun to do. That IR shot has a certain something that the colour one does not have. It is good to push ones creative limits to the edge.