Black and white photography with my favourite editing software - Nik's Silver Efex

[@Simonsutak]

Here are time links to each part of the video: 00:00 Introduction 03:53 Modern styles 06:25 Classic styles 08:16 Vintage styles 11:09 Other styles 12:58 Low key and high key 16:21 Conclusions Link to DxO's Nik Collection: tidd.ly/3pkZlhU

[@garygalt4146]

Started my apprenticeship in the black white darkroom. At a large studio that did everything thing in house. We also printed for other professional’s in the Merseyside area. If they could afford £18 per 10’x8’ in 1983. I quickly learnt how some outside photographers would brag about how good they were. After we had push processed under exposed negs. And spent 30mins or even an hour saving a bad neg. To hear the photographer saying to the secretary how he loves to shoot ART every now and then. A roll of my eyes and head to the kitchen for a well deserved cup of tea. Because of my darkroom training I moved into photoshop at the beginning and still use nik silver effect even though I have most software. Not sponsored by them. I miss the relaxed time of the darkroom with nostalgia and rose tinted glasses but the missus will say when I sigh about the old days she doesn’t miss the smell on my clothes when I came home. But now you Finnish a wedding and spend days in the studio and even carry on at home because the computer is always there.

[@campbells0ups]

never considered B&W processing for images with incorrect exposures, such as the one with your cat. what a shot! the processing really brings the best out of the photo.

[@rien2080]

Thanks for the video! I just wanted to tell you that you're one of the photography-related youtubers I closely follow because of the quality of content you put out! I say this without exaggeration, your videos are top-notch and very informative. I hope your channel continues to grow!

[@rodcummings3606]

Thanks Simon, another excellent tutorial. I found it quite inspiring. I've been converting color image to black & white in Lightroom for many years and always seem to be using the same preset each time. It's about time that I become a bit more creative. The fact that you have been using Nik Silver Efex for a long time is more than enough recommendation for me to purchase the full version.

[@markielinhart]

Fab video Simon, thanks! Due to a Mac upgrade and a subsequent OS one to Ventura I lost my free Silver Efex2 plug-in to Photos, so I’ve jumped straight to Nik7 and wow, what a thing this is. Silver Efex and Analog Efex are my faves. Double exposure anyone? Now to get my head around control points 🤔🇦🇺

[@Simonsutak]

Thank you! I'm a big fan of Analog Efex too. It's rescued/transformed some of my less well taken shots 😉

[@timoteiafanasie4894]

I love your clip, and i'm an old photographer, i used bw films '79-'92. Nowadays i rarely make photos. But when i do bw i make them using lr or ps. I make them to my liking, to please my eye. Anyway, nik collection is good, i have last free edition, but...

[@fintonmainz7845]

I use the free edition and I'm happy with it.

[@markferguson9081]

Thanks Simon. I used to use Silver efex a lot in the past, but as Lightroom has evolved I rarely go there now. I find the filters are often quite garish and over the top, especially for landscape. However, used with good judgement as you have done, it can be very effective. Where the Nik collection really comes into its own are the control points, which you didn’t really highlight. Perhaps in a future video? Thanks again 😊

[@victorcarmelo8606]

Great video and topic. I also have NSE from when Nik owned it and paid good money for it and also Dfine 2. Then got the whole suite from Google too when it became free. Sorry won’t be buying DXO’s version as feel I already paid good money for this software and feel they should have offered previous users more attractive prices and I certainly would have bought it again. Don’t use the old versions much these days as I use an iPad Pro rather than my laptop. Would be nice to see a cheaper version for IOS and android phones and pads. Thanks for sharing.

[@glencoe1266]

Hey at least they havent gone full Adobe with how they expect you to "rent" the software for a mint each month while progressively ruining the apps with each update.

[@victorcarmelo8606]

@@glencoe1266 yes sure but for how long? as will Luminar and ON1 will to follow Adobe.

[@glencoe1266]

I had a play with Silver Efex from within Lightroom and I noticed that it exports a copy of the RAW file as tiff etc and that you can't use (in my case as I am a Nikon user) NEF or RAW file directly inside the software. Mybe a mention of this would have been good? Its still a great app but I like editing my raw files exclusively.

[@juliovila8233]

Any info on vintage lenses that lend themselves to black and white

[@sword-and-shield]

Yeah, its great for global edits, but garbage for local. The control points and there lack of sharp precise control just isn't enough to be a one stop shop for B&W, unless of course the basics are all that is required, and sometimes that is the case.