First day with the M Monochrom

[seanbonner]

Just got the M Monochrom and took it out yesterday. Folks who know me here know I'm a bit of a die-hard film guy so going digital is a big step for me and will come with a learning curve I'm sure. So the preface here is that these photos are largely straight out of the camera with little or no post processing. I wanted to play with the low light capabilities so in all of these shots there is only available light used, no flash of any kind. So far I'm super impressed, and once I wrap my head around the settings and what I can do with Lightroom afterwards I think it'll only get better...


Disneyland Halloween Party by seanbonner, on Flickr


Disneyland Halloween Party by seanbonner, on Flickr


Rips by seanbonner, on Flickr


Tara prepping by seanbonner, on Flickr


Haunted Mansion by seanbonner, on Flickr

 

[maggieo]

You're off to a good start!

 

[jaapv]

If you are a LR novice: The quick develop settings in the Library module are usually quite sufficient for the Monochrom files. Try the autotone button, it works quite well from time to time. Pulling the highlights slider down, opening the shadows up and darkening the blacks can be quite effective too. The clarity slider is quite powerful.

 

[Richard G]

Nice shots. I am limping through Martin Evening's book on LR which is probably not the best place to start. But the key thing I learnt from the book so far is as Jaapv says, those sliders down the right in the Develop module are designed to be used in order as you go down the page. It is has a certain simple logic. My M9 sees some input sharpening preloaded at 25%. Seldom necessary to do much with that so I am mostly fiddling with the sliders Jaapv mentions, and the the Luminance slider (noise) which you will probably never touch. I really like that second shot.

 

[seanbonner]

Thanks very much, excellent tips. I can see the benefit from that already!