[Solitary Echo]

Here are just a pair of photos I had taken a few days after I picked up my new camera. Just like everyone else's threads like these, just tell me where I can improve and such. Thanks in advance.





I know they aren't much, I've been too busy to get out of class to take anymore, but it's a start.

[cowkid90]

Don't just desaturate your photos when you want B&W. If you have Photoshop, use the Channel Mixer, check monotone, and try to keep everything adding up to around 100% as a general guideline.

I like the first one, but the second's just boring to me.

[Grubby]

When you print, ask yourself: does this photo have a full highlight ("white")? a shadow ("black")?
then, what is the subject? if this is my subject, where should the focus be? does the background support my subject by design, or is it consuming the subject?

for starters

[Solitary Echo]

Alright, I'll try messing around with photoshop, I haven't learned too much about it yet, I just used the basic B&W setting on my Rebel.

[Drex17]

Originally Posted by Solitary Echo

Alright, I'll try messing around with photoshop, I haven't learned too much about it yet, I just used the basic B&W setting on my Rebel.

Always shoot in color.

You can convert color to B&W, but not the other way around.

[Vision Eyez]

no offence but i dont like either

#1 - almost reminds me of an old war movie, also make the B&W have more contrast with less greys in there, play around in PS with the curves

#2 - should have focused on the bench and not the tree would have been better IMO at first you look at the bench and see it out of focus before you notice the tree. Also play with the curves in PS again for contrast in the B&W

[wgpskaterpunk]

Originally Posted by cowkid90

Don't just desaturate your photos when you want B&W. If you have Photoshop, use the Channel Mixer, check monotone, and try to keep everything adding up to around 100% as a general guideline.

I like the first one, but the second's just boring to me.

I love Channel Mixer , MUCH better then Desaturating.

[Grubby]

Don't rely on photoshop to correct mistakes you should account for in capturing, just go back and reshoot.

[Slacker04]

B&W is great if your someone like me with a photo lab in school, so i prefer B&W, maybe he does too.

[NorthStarRaider]

Drew is absolutely right. ALWAYS shoot color.

There are a few general rules for black and white.

Like the other guys said (and I'll have to ask them how they do it because like you...I desaturate everything) you have to have something absolutely black and absolutely white. I'm guilty of leaving lots of greys myself.

The other rule is that when color ISN'T important, then there isn't supposed to be any. If you are shooting something because its structurally interesting, then make it black and white, whereas shooting fall colors, obviously keep the color.

[Drex17]

Originally Posted by NorthStarRaider

Drew is absolutely right. ALWAYS shoot color.

[NorthStarRaider]

haha, why the cross eyed?

[tauntedmonster]

Drew≠Drex

[NorthStarRaider]

AH, my bad...DREX is correct, always shoot color hahaha.

[Drex17]

Originally Posted by NorthStarRaider

AH, my bad...DREX is correct, always shoot color hahaha.

[cowkid90]

Drex is more than right about always shooting color, Drex is always right.

But anyway, I think there's a good tutorial on BW conversions in the Photoshop sticky. I'm gonna go check, and if not I'll put a link in there.

Edit: Channel mixer tutorial. Also, try this.

[Slacker04]

If its a film camera and your using b&w, you can get a 17% gray card or something... Your camera should have a light meter, if you let it focus on the perfect gray card, it should then be ready to take better contrasting pics. But yes, it is a lot easier to go from color to black and white.

[nyy]

Yeah there just isnt enough contrast on those pics.

[IHateSnow]

i say leave the B&W for film cameras