black and white girl

[carlyfan]

This is a shot of my cousin.


I have recently been trying black and white conversions. Did I get it right?
I know you're not "supposed" to have blown out areas, but I also know that you can break the rules if you do it right. I like the blown out hair. What do you think?
I didn't crop at all, would that help this picture?
Any thing else?
Thanks everyone!

EXIF
Camera Brand: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Date Taken: 2010:08:28 15:50:20
Exposure Time: 1/500 sec.
Aperture Value: 5.31 EV (f/6.3)
ISO Speed Rating: 800
Flash Fired: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode.
Metering Mode: Average
Exposure Program: Normal program
Focal Length: 50.0 mm

Lisa

[sheila3]

Hi. I am no pro but here are my thoughts. I don't think it needs cropping. I like the composition. And yes I too think the blown out hair looks cool. I'm just wondering if there is a way to have rest of photo more black and white and less gray. I'm sure there is in photoshop. Just too new to tell you how. Overall I like it. Keep posting

[carlyfan]

Thank for the feed back Sheila. I was wondering about the B&W. I did some levels adjustment, and it looks way better than when I first converted it to gray-scale. I followed a tutorial on here for conversions that used levels. Maybe I'll have to try the channel thing that I've seen on here. It sounds really complex though. Thanks for your help!

Lisa

[MrJones]

Perfect! don't change a thing!
it's ok to have blown out areas and it's ok to have black areas.
my opinion is a black and white photo should have black, white and gray in the middle and you've got all three.
I love the angle you took, I wouldn't change a thing!

[boun]

am no expert either, but I would shoot at smaller ISO
still I like the photo

[carlyfan]

Thank you so much Mr. Jones! Your words are very encouraging!

Thanks boun!
I wish I had realized my ISO was set that high. I usually have it lower, especially outside.

Lisa

[S_Sanyal]

I would firstly like to say that its a great picture! The playfulness of the little girl and the context (grass etc.) with her expression are very well rendered.

am no expert either, but I would shoot at smaller ISO
still I like the photo

I wouldnt worry about this, as the noise/grain adds to the "feel". or highlights for that matter look great here. Am happy you chose to broke these rules.

My only advice would be to perhaps bend lower so that you are at same eye-level as subject and wouldnt have to have her looking up at the lense. For children, I have just observed that the images are way stronger if the framing is at eye level.

Alternately, what you have is also good as it gives you the grass etc. and in doing the above you would have to be very careful about the background, light etc., here you have a more constant canvas with fairly uniform light reflecting of the ground so its safer .

Yet gain, I'd add that this is a great picture!

[BigFuzzy]

The only issue I have with this otherwise great portrait is the way her arms are cropped off. It feels a bit awkward to me.

You nailed the b&w conversion, as someone else said, you got it right as there are both proper blacks and whites in this image and the blown out part, though not awesome, doesn't take away from the image too much (though it DOES take my eyes away a bit from the face).
The downside of a blown out section, is that it takes away from her face a bit which makes me wish for a bit brighter exposed face as it feels a bit dark in comparison to the highlights.

Despite that.. it's a great natural portrait.. just think about those chopped limbs when you're composing in the future. Well done!

[carlyfan]

Thank you Saptarshi!
As you guessed, I was trying to avoid the cluttered background I would have gotten with a lower angle.(cars, buildings, ect.) I do love eye level shots for kids though. Thanks again!

Thanks Al!
I will try to watch for chopping of limbs. That's one of the many things I often forget when I see a shot and have only a split second to capture it, such as children's expressions. There's always something else to work on. Thanks!

Lisa