Experiment in B/W

[sabina1970]

Hi there,

I am experimenting a little with black and white photography, to give my photos an 'artistic' look, playing with contrast and exposure. I converted this picture taken in color, exaggerating everything...

I would like your comments about how to give black/whites an interesting look and your advice about composition, lighting exposure and contrast...:-))

Thank you in advance for your imput..:-))
Sabina



f. 4.5
shutter speed: 1/40
ISO: 800
focal length: 70mm
flash manual: 1/3

[Wooglah]

Well, it' seams to me that you made your image "washed out" in postprocessing. There is a lack of details on the face. Too much brightness or not enough contrast, or something like that... What are you using for PP?

[avocodo_oil]

I would never shoot below 1/60 shutter speed. Your hands seem to be steady, by the thin hairs that are in focus, though that might be from the flash.

I would never shoot at 800 ISO either, though that might be necessary for indoor or night photography. Maybe I need to rethink that.

I would say the photograph is overexposed, because you can't see the contours of the right cheek.

[sabina1970]

Thank you...:-)) I know, that the picture is completely overexposed, this is the original, I wanted to know, how to make an interesting b/w picture out of a color photo....:-)

[Wooglah]

Original looks much better than the bw version. Again, what are you using for PP? Photoshop? Elements? Gimp? ...

[sabina1970]

Thanks..:-)) I am using Photoshop Elements and completely changed red, greens and blues in the picture before converting it into b/w...
Any suggestions how to make a great looking black and white???

Sabina

[ressalg]

Originally Posted by sabina1970

...how to make a great looking black and white??? Sabina

That would kind of depend on what you think makes a great black and white. I have a plug-in for Photoshop CS2 that has all kinds of different styles of b&w. But it's also possible that everyone of those options wouldn't be what your looking for.

When you think of a great b&w photo what comes to mind?

[Wooglah]

Originally Posted by sabina1970

Any suggestions how to make a great looking black and white???

Sabina

I had to know what you use so I could tell you what to try - every program is different. Now, Elements... this is new for me but I have the trial version two days now...

There is simple "Convert to black and white" inside Enhance menu. You select options for portrait from list, and there is manual averride for rgb colours and contrast.

Also, you could try this, since I can not rgb channels in Elements (to remove blue one and stuff):
- Go to Enhance, Adjust Color, Adjust Color Curves and select "Increase Contrast", then click OK.
- Select Smart Brush Tool, High Contrast Red Channel and paint the whole image. Flatten the image again.
- Enhance, Highlights/Shadows, play with it a little bit, than the same but Brightness/Contrast.
- Play a little bit with sharpness.

[sabina1970]

Hi Wooglah,

thank you so much for your advice...:-)) I am trying it out right now, I am using Photoshop Elements 6.0 and somehow I can't seem to find the Smart Brush Tool....:-) Do you have a newer version of Elements?

I'll keep looking, thanks again!!!!
Sabina

[sabina1970]

ok!!! I've got it!!! And I absolutely LOVE it!!! Thanks so much!!!!

Sabina