I’ve been trying to figure out how to convert photos to black and white for a long time. Maybe years. Oh, not constantly – just when I see something I think would look better in black and white. I have Adobe Photoshop and it should be easy, but I’ve frequently poked around there searching without any luck. So I did what I’ve heard lots of people do when they get stumped about something.
I went to YouTube.
Apparently people are right; you can find instructions for anything there. After watching a couple videos, and going back to figure out exactly which version of Photoshop I had, I figured out the basics. Then I tinkered around a bit more and came up with this:
Still working on the farm.
It seems to fit in perfectly with Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge, specifically a shot of something with an engine.
This old farm truck sits out by the road advertising events held at the farm. Soon it will be pumpkin picking time. Seems too early doesn’t it, but seasons come and seasons go.
This old workhorse has seen a lot of them, and I think it remains beautiful, and certainly photo worthy, no matter what the season.
Change Is Hard 
August 16, 2015 at 10:07 am
Old things seem to have so much character, if only they could tell their stories. Some things are more dramatic in black and white, but I so love color, I rarely play with it.
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August 16, 2015 at 1:25 pm
I love color too…but once in awhile…..it just seems like black and white would be right. I’m glad I figured it out enough to use it once in awhile.
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August 16, 2015 at 11:19 am
That is a great old truck. Thanks so much for participating this week. 😀
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August 16, 2015 at 1:26 pm
You are welcome Cee. Thank YOU for providing the challenge that made me once and for all go figure it out!
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August 16, 2015 at 11:37 am
looks good – I have PhotoShop or rather PhotoShop Elements and i use it to tune some photos, not all… but often to crop and put a mark on the photos identifying the website… I have tried B&W photography on some photos and for some it works… others not so. Like the truck, the farmstand must be a great one. Have a wonderful day and week ahead.
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August 16, 2015 at 1:28 pm
Thanks! So you’re a teacher! (snuck over to your blog)…my sister is too. Her school year started last Monday. She wants to teach middle school science, but she’s currently teaching special ed, all grades, math. I think it’s really difficult to be a teacher at all, and you have my greatest respect!
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August 16, 2015 at 12:22 pm
Great conversion Dawn! I’ll be looking for more B&W images from you now… 🙂
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August 16, 2015 at 1:28 pm
I think you’ll see some once in awhile. Last time I did black and white was on film, in 1987.
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August 16, 2015 at 2:38 pm
Yeah for you — you figured it out! Domer has long told me you can learn more anything from Googling it or searching on YouTube. Glad you were able to confirm that. Well done on the challenge!
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August 17, 2015 at 5:52 am
It’s amazing the information that’s out there.
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August 16, 2015 at 4:57 pm
Lightroom has a bunch of B&W presets that I like to go thru and try; different ones work with different photos and sometimes I suddenly see one that’s perfect for a photo–or vrey close and then I tweak from there. I also usually like color but very very occasionally B&W works best. My only club Image of the Month so far I got on a B&W photo, go figure!
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August 16, 2015 at 4:58 pm
P.S. I love “your” truck in B&W like this, nice job.
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August 17, 2015 at 5:53 am
It’s fun to experiment. Even more fun when you can figure something out that you’ve been trying to figure out for a long time.
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August 16, 2015 at 6:51 pm
You’re the second person I know who took photos of old trucks this week! I love it.
It’s becoming a trend to “restore” these old trucks, but leave the original, rusty finish instead of painting them up shiny and new. Keep the patina. I want one!
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August 17, 2015 at 5:54 am
There’s another old truck a couple of miles away, but it’s in someone’s yard and I’m nervous to just pull up and start taking pictures, and it’s not the kind of house I’d go knock on the door…
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August 16, 2015 at 8:00 pm
Beautifully done, Dawn. 🙂
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August 17, 2015 at 5:54 am
Thank you Robin!
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August 16, 2015 at 9:50 pm
Love old trucks. Nice job on the b/w.
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August 17, 2015 at 5:55 am
Me too. There are quite a few around here, but this one seemed more ‘public’ and less of an intrusion for me to stop and photograph. It’s an advertisement for the tourist farm it sits on.
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August 18, 2015 at 3:19 pm
This was a good choice for a B&W. And yes, youtube is a great resource for learning!
But enough with that pumpkin talk 😉
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August 18, 2015 at 4:46 pm
I know…right? Good news the pumpkins are still smallish ( basketball size) and green.
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August 20, 2015 at 11:46 am
Congratulations! I have selected this post to be featured Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge.
http://ceenphotography.com/2015/08/20/cees-black-white-photo-challenge-flowers/
I sure hope you have had a great week.
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August 20, 2015 at 1:52 pm
Thank you very much Cee! I had fun doing it. I love going out looking for a specific photo to meet a challenge, and you made me learn how to do black and white!
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