3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

Omaha Nebraska

Using Lightroom 4: Black and White Conversion

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Using Lightroom to Create Black & White Images

I am a person who sees in color and therefore my photographs are in color, but sometimes color is distracting and facial expressions and emotion get lost in the “clutter”. Black and white photography highlights the face, the eyes and expressive personalities. It doesn’t just work for people, but black and white photography works for animals as well.

Take for example this gorilla from the Omaha Zoo.

Gorilla at the Omaha Zoo
Gorilla at the Omaha Zoo

I’ve seen some amazing black and white photographs on the photography section of the WordPress blog.  So, I thought I would try my hand at using Adobe Lightroom to see if I could achieve the same thing. I love Adobe Lightroom, it’s easy to learn and no matter how many times you edit your photo you can go back to the original without worrying about losing data.

Stand Alone Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 6 Program | PC/Mac Disc$10/month Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan (Photoshop CC + Lightroom) subscription

It’s not as simple as clicking the black and white button. I also adjusted some of the underlying color tones and increased the clarity to bring out the details and shadows.

Black and White Lightroom Example
Click for bigger image and more detail

This is a time I wish my WordPress template was wider for images. If you click on the image you can see some of the changes in a bigger format.

The original black and white threw too many shadows around his eyes, but the adjustment lighten brush solved that problem.  I also used the adjustment brush to sharpen his nose, darken highlights in the fur and increase the clarity in the creases. There really was a lot I did to this image, so much so I couldn’t list them all.

Many photographers learn by watching YouTube videos but sometimes there is nothing like settling down with a book for inspiration. If you have a friend who loves photography and is creative these make great Christmas or birthday gifts.

Black and White Photography: A Basic Manual Third Revised EditionThe Art of Black and White Photography: Techniques for Creating Superb Images in a Digital Workflow

Photo info: This gorilla lives at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, it’s one of my favorite places to visit.  I posted earlier about the Gorilla exhibit, give it a read, it’s pretty amazing. If anyone visits Omaha contact me and I’ll be more than glad to take you on a tour.

Black and White Photography Hints and Tips

5 digital photography tips only the pros know

Black-and-white photography is a quick way to make a classy portrait photo or atmospheric cityscape. However, the black-and-white mode on your camera is not the way to do it. In that mode, the camera sensor only captures a fraction of the information …

Kim Komando: 5 digital photography tips from the pros

The major don’t of black-and-white photography. Black-and-white photography is a quick way to make a classy portrait photo or atmospheric cityscape. However, the black-and-white mode on your camera is not the way to do it. In that mode, the camera …

Black And White Photography Tips – The SITS Girls

Learn how to capture emotion, texture, light, shadows, and more with these black and white photography tips.

Black and white photography – Digital Camera World

In this black and white photography tutorial you’ll learn best camera settings, subjects and monochrome conversion methods for your photo editing software.

4 Tips to Help you Decide Between Black and White or Color

Half Color. There are many differing opinions when it comes to black and white photography. Some photographers love it, and shoot black and white exclusively, while other photographers absolutely shun the notion and shoot only in color.

#19/52: Buffalo on the Prairie

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Buffalo on the Nebraska Prairie
Buffalo on the Nebraska Prairie (SOOC)

A lone buffalo stands guard between Omaha and Lincoln Nebraska at the Lee Simmons Wildlife park. While he may not be wild, or even real, the buffalo inside the park are real. It is ironic this buffalo stands next to a fence, which to me symbolizes how barbed wire and man civilized the prairie to the point where the only buffalo can only be seen in captivity.

The above shot is straight out of camera shot, a little over exposed. When I adjusted the exposure the scene was just too contrasted for the texture of the bronze buffalo. So I turned him to black and white in Lightroom 4.  This is a reach for me as I LOVE the blue of the sky and high contrast.

I adjusted the clarity in the clouds and reduced the shadows in the grass.

Buffalo in Nebraska
Buffalo in Nebraska

What version do you like best?

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Day 170/365: Exploring the Lied Jungle in Omaha Nebraska

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Exploring the Rainforest at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo

One of my passions, or “3 Quarters” is the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha Nebraska.

While my son was on leave from the Marines it was a trip we had to make as it has been a summer tradition and at least one annual trip every year. (when the kids were smaller it was several times a year) So enjoy a few pictures from the Lied Jungle and I’ll give a few facts along the way.

Did you know that this big zoo in the little city of Omaha Nebraska has been voted the Best Zoo in America?

Bet not, but the indoor rainforest is just one of the reasons.

Facts about the Lied Jungle in Omaha Nebraska

The Lied Jungle was built in 1992 and is eight stories tall and has over 90 different species of animals living in both secure habits and roaming the paths and treetops. Many times I’ve seen a Golden Lion Tamarin in the branches above me. All the plants are real and it’s difficult to tell which vines are fake and hold mechanical cables.

Lied Jungle Omaha Nebraska
Waterfall in the Omaha Jungle

I’ve lost track of how many waterfalls there are, but I seem to remember a number over twenty. To walk through the Lied Jungle the first time would take several hours. There are many nooks and crannies to explore. One of our favorites is the small overlook at the top of the tallest 50-foot waterfall.


I didn’t even know my son was standing up there when I took this picture. So many great photo opp locations. I have been bemoaning the fact we don’t have any waterfalls here, but there are twenty waterfalls right in Omaha Nebraska, what am I thinking?

Lied Jungle Omaha Nebraska - Free roaming Monkeys roam the jungle and may just jump on your head
Monkeys in the Jungle Treetops

Covering one and a half acres directly inside the main gate, the Lied Jungle® has 123,000 square feet of floor space with 61,000 square feet of planted exhibit space, 35,000 square feet of display management area and 11,000 square feet of education space. One time I even saw real bananas growing in a clump on the forest floor.

How the Lied Jungle at the Omaha Zoo has Changed

Lied Jungle Omaha Zoo: treetop and canopy is over two stories tallAt one time you could see all the way across the jungle, now the plants and trees have grown too tall it’s truly a jungle environment. The animals, in the beginning, were damaging the plants too quickly, monkeys and the birds were shredding the leaves for nesting and food. Now they can’t tear it apart fast enough, it is truly a jungle environment.

I love the waterfalls, and the Lied Jungle in Omaha Nebraska has several large indoor waterfalls. You can walk underneath, beside and touch the water, and it feels like you are in an actual jungle. My favorite is the swinging rope bridge. I never tire of walking across it.

The Lied Jungle in Omaha Nebraska has several large indoor waterfalls, many you can walk under and get refreshed
Lied Jungle Waterfall

You might be asking, so, where is the rope bridge? My picture this year didn’t turn out good, so below is one from last years trip.  I love this bridge, it swings, it’s wet, it’s very cool and so much fun!

For those less adventurous, or with a baby stroller, wheelchair, etc.  there is a path through the caves.

Swinging Rope Bridge in the Jungle
Swinging Rope Bridge in the Jungle (2010)

The Gorilla Complex is also another highlight of the zoo and who would have known we would have such world-class attractions in Omaha Nebraska. Not only do we have the Best Zoo in America, but recently received the Largest Zoo in the World recognition.

If any of my readers ever come to Omaha, seriously contact me, I will meet you there and give you a personal tour.

I love it that much.

Send me photos of your trip on my Facebook page, let me know how much you love the zoo.