My first B&W's

[jterry85]

Here are the first photos I have done in B&W. I don't know if they are "true" black and whites as I just converted them in PSE9 but I like them and wanted to share. Please feel free to C&C!

1. The Castellane Champagne House

2. A View of the Eiffel Tower

3. An alley in Luxembourg City

 

[jwbryson1]

The photos are interesting but to me, they lack some sharpness (the Eiffel Tower was shot at f/5 looking straight up--gives the tip a soft focus), and I think they are a bit underexposed. I'd like to see the blacks darker and the whites a bit whiter, and perhaps a bit more contrast.

Just my $0.02.

 

[MLeeK]

They are rather flat and need a boost. When you are converting to black and white you are best off to use the color sliders and make each color the tone of black to white you want it. A good black and white will be black, white and everything in between. OFTEN times you will need a bump in brightness or exposure before converting too.
These have black and a little white but mostly they are gray-scale.

 

[Frequency]

#1 : The leaves seen on the left side of the castle disturbs vision, IMHO
#2 : well composed
#3: This image lacks a point of interest, i am afraid
Images have an over all under exposed appearance; some processing can far improve the appeal i feel

Regards

 

[onemoroni1]

My 2 cents on the third. Tighter crop into the archway to bring out the lamp as a focal point, and emphasize the diagonal of the windows and other geometric patterns, but keep it simple and not busy. Personally I don't like digital b/w because it is flat, work with it. Peace

 

[KenC]

Contrast is the main problem here, as mentioned earlier, mainly due to lack of highlights. The third is an interesting composition (imo the crop works as is) and has some good textures which would be brought out by upping the contrast.

 

[jterry85]

Thanks for all the C&C's everyone! I'm looking to do more B&W when I finally get back home. Would it be better to shoot the picture as a B&W or in color and then convert it in PS? Thanks!

Joe

 

[KenC]

Shoot in color and convert - you get to control how the conversion is done instead of accepting the presets the camera uses.