My Monochrome Girl

[z0mbina80]

Well.. I have always been a lover of black and white portraits and I really want to improve mine. I've been trying to work lately on the proper contrast in my b/w images. Any suggestions on how I can improve them..or any photoshop or lightroom tricks that maybe I'm missing. I use levels a lot as well as curve. I'm not really a fan of posed portraits so I usually go with candids and work from there. I'm more of a spur of the moment person lol. Thanks for any advice



ISO 400
27.5mm
f/ 3.7
1/60 sec
flash off/did not fire

[natek313]

The contrast definitely needs to go up. There is way too much gray and not enough black and white.

Try using a gradient map for your black and white conversion and a curves adjustment. With the curves tool, start with a present (linear contrast or medium contrast) and start playing with it to see how it affects the image. You can also fool around with the gradient map settings. That would be my suggestion.

[z0mbina80]

yeah, I haven't had a chance to play with gradient map yet. Looks like that is my next adventure lol.

Do you happen to know any good tutorials for that?

Thanks for the advice

[scubajen]

I am nowhere near a black and white expert---but I LOVE it!!