How's my B&X conversion?

[EmyB]

Sigh! Typo in the title if any mod can fix it for me please.

I've just been reading Scott Kelby's tips on converting to B & W. I know this photo isn't very good technically (the focus is soft and the background is too close/busy). I was trying really hard to get my son's expression of happiness and this was the best I got considering he was twirling around with Dorothy in his arms!!

I was hoping it would look better in B&W. Any thoughts/criticisms would be much appreciated.

Also, I wonder if I could get it sharper somehow? Is photoshop's sharpening more powerful than Lightrooms?





1/320
f 5/0
ISO 800
50mm

[EmyB]

Anybody?

[karen_s]

I'm more a 'hey you' than an 'anybody' but I'll give it a whirl any wayl.

The blacks area little too full but other than that, I think it's a pretty good conversion, especially considering your original is a rather dark dark. You might try dodging his eyes just a bit although there may be nothing more there to bring out. Worth a try though. One other thing you might try is playing with the greens. In the color version, the green of the toy is easily separated from the little lad. But, in the BW, they tend to be about the same tone. You might be able to make the toy lighter or darker with some of the color sliders. (In Lightroom, I use the luminance slider for the separate colors.)

As far as sharpness, it would be a challenge. The blur might be too much to overcome. Have you tried anything at all? I mostly use Lightrooms tool but have on occasion used the High Pass filter method. Sharpen Images In Photoshop With The High Pass Filter

If that fails, you could instead just go with it and make it look like a black and white print from the days of film or go even older like an old polaroid.

Cute, cute kid by the way.

[EmyB]

Karen thankyou so much for your reply! It was very helpful. I like what uou've said about separating the greens. Also I know I've clipped the blacks a bit but as they are mainly the background I was hoping it would help separate the boy from the background. There are blown highlights in the background too! :s Good idea about lightening his eyes. I'll give it a crack!

As far as sharpening goes, I've just tried the plain old Lightroom sharpening. I have PS also though I don't know how to use it so I should find that tutorial very helpful!

If I manage to improve the photo I'll post again.

[graciousness]

It's hard to convert that original to Black and White due to exposure and focusing issues. I know you're only having a play, but monochrome conversions are hard if the coloured version is problematic in the first place, especially if it's exposure issues.

There's really not a lot you can do to improve the photo with the conversion as you need it to be better exposed to bring out the true blacks and whites of the photo.

Also, you'll find the simpler, less cluttered photos convert better. That's what I'm learning, anyway.

There's a member here, Nicola, who does fabulous work with her conversions and she has made a couple of tutorials here (In the Tutorials section). Check them out!