Newbie B/W shots

[gswede]

Bought myself a Canon 500d for x-mas.
As I am not much of a photographer I have been playing around with the camera getting to grips with different settings and such.

Here is a few BW photos shot over the holidays, critique welcome.

 

[SoonerBJJ]

The contrast in #1 is kind of cool but the subject and composition isn't interesting. The reflection in the back window is distracting.

Cute kid in #2 but it looks as if you were going for grain but got noise. The centered subject with empty space to subject's right is awkward for me. Some might criticize you for including her shoulders but cutting off the top of her head.

#3 is also cute. I like the focus and DOF. White skin, light colored top and flash makes for a washed out appearance.

In #4 your horizon is off. I think if you're doing panoramics you need to be really anal about that kind of thing.