Nice work in the Portrait challenge

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

03/15/2004 06:01:48 PM · #1

I was pleasantly surprised to see several very nice photos in the Portrait challenge. I probably shouldnâ��t be surprised, because there are a lot of really good photographers here. I suppose itâ��s because I have very little experience with portraiture myself, and the little I have had has all been bad. ;^) I really wanted to give this challenge a go, but I just couldnâ��t talk anybody into posing for me.

It also seems that a lot of people chose to submit B&W images. Is that because itâ��s easier to get nice, even skin tones with B&W? Iâ��m not a big fan of B&W, but some of these images look very good.

Anyway, I congratulate the challenge participants.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

03/15/2004 06:07:01 PM · #2

Originally posted by micknewton:

It also seems that a lot of people chose to submit B&W images. Is that because itâ��s easier to get nice, even skin tones with B&W? Iâ��m not a big fan of B&W, but some of these images look very good.

Usually b&w can hide blemishes or other flaws. Most people I think would go the b&w route rather then do too much cloning/healing in PS.

Edit. I really enjoy monotone shots.

Message edited by author 2004-03-15 18:07:35.

Mick

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

03/15/2004 06:23:48 PM · #3

Originally posted by faidoi:

Edit. I really enjoy monotone shots.

Really? Do you mean a B&W image with very little variation between light and dark, or do you mean a color image made with variations of a single color?

For myself, I find that I prefer the B&W images that have a broad variation between light and dark. In other words, really dark shadows to bright white highlights, with lots of shades in between. The dark and light areas can really help give a composition some punch. There are a few like this in the challenge and I thought they were great.

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

03/15/2004 06:33:17 PM · #4

I guess it is everyones preference on what they like. I like the soft portraits. I also like the b/w portraits. Whether they have alot of contrast or not.

I thought the folks did a fine job on their portraits. Who needs a professional. :-)

timj351

Sony DSC-F707

03/15/2004 06:37:10 PM · #5

Black and white is great for emphasizing the forms and details in an image. A color portrait when cropped close to the facial features is basically a duotone image anyway with skin tones so it is not a big leap to convert the image to black and white to emphasize the features and provide more of an emotional impact. You need to decide what you are trying to convey. Sometimes color is distracting.

T

justine

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

03/15/2004 06:58:28 PM · #6

I really thought highly of most of the portrait shots.
I scored
1-10
1-9
35-8
and the rest are a mixed bag of 7,6,a few 5,4.
Really a good challenge folks! Impressive.

arbil14

Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di for Canon

03/15/2004 08:17:46 PM · #7

I have my favorites, too in this challenge....if only I can vote... **sigh**

I'll just probably gave comments on those entries I like... :)

Mick

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

03/15/2004 08:26:53 PM · #8

Originally posted by arbil14:

I have my favorites, too in this challenge....if only I can vote... **sigh**

I'll just probably gave comments on those entries I like... :)

I'm sure they will appreciate your comments. Tell them the score you would have given them. And, if you have time, comment on some of the ones you don't like. Tell them what it is that you don't like. I know that I like to get comments on my photos. whether they like them or not.

Message edited by author 2004-03-15 20:27:40.

Jacko

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/15/2004 08:37:14 PM · #9

Wow! Nice work in the Potrait challenge. I gave out 11 10s and a bunch of 9s. Good job!

arbil14

Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di for Canon

03/15/2004 08:44:15 PM · #10

Originally posted by micknewton:

thanks Michael, I'll do that... :)

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

03/15/2004 09:47:47 PM · #11

I just finished voting, and I must say I am stunned by the overall quality of the group. What a pleasure to vote this challenge! Kudos to all who entered.
I, unfortunately, did not have anything shot last week that I felt comfortable with, and after seeing the other entries, I think I made the correct choice!

03/22/2004 12:52:44 PM · #12

Originally posted by micknewton:

It's a hard call to make sometimes, I debated over that decision for quite awhile, but found the B&W version to be more striking. Now that I look back at the color version, I feel I lost alot of the warmth from my son in the B&W. What do you think?

Entry

Outake

Overall, I have to say this was an outstanding challenge with some incredible images and amazing scores. Barely broke top 40 with a 6.xx score. Wow!!! Way to go and a special congrats to Kiwiness and Librodo, two of my favorites (out of many). :)

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

03/22/2004 12:56:20 PM · #13

I liked the B&W one actually. Also liked that you got really down low and 'in there' with the shot.

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

03/22/2004 12:59:02 PM · #14

I like the color one better for this shot. You are right, you lost the warmth, especially since he is taking a nice warm bath. (;

On a personaly note: I scored my highest score with my portrait. Thanks to all who commented....Martin

moodville

Nikon D100

03/22/2004 01:02:51 PM · #15

Wow, I didnt think I would ever say this, but... I like the color version better. He has such great blue eyes it seems a shame to hide them in black and white, and also I think it gives a different mood. The black and white seemed more harsh and clinical, which I suppose went with the title, but the color one feels more appealing.

geewhy

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

03/22/2004 01:10:20 PM · #16

A background which has vibrant colour and distracts can be a good reason for choosing B/W but in this instance the background is muted and complimentary which (to me) suits the coloured format better.
Great Image.

Gordon

Message edited by author 2004-03-22 13:10:59.

03/22/2004 01:12:17 PM · #17

Originally posted by Gordon:

I liked the B&W one actually. Also liked that you got really down low and 'in there' with the shot.

Heh,heh, funny you should say that. This wasn't a planned shoot at all, just happened to be having some fun and he was in a really playful mood at the time, so I just grabbed my camera that, at the time, had my 70-210mm lens on it. Kids don't tend to be very patient so I didn't want to risk changing it. So, as it turns out, I was very down low, but all contorted up against the bathroom cabinets just trying to get far enough away to get him in. :-) It was a pretty funny site to see.

Moodville & Olympian, yours too, were also very high up on my list. Olympian, I thought your's was very emotional and I'm a fan of Moodville anyways and love the animal series you've been working on lately. Thanks for your input guys! :)

It would be interesting to see if anyone else wanted to share their color versions since there were so many B&W entries, just to see how the treatments can change the mood of the photographs.

Message edited by author 2004-03-22 13:20:21.

Geo_Griffin

Panasonic Lumix FZ45

03/22/2004 01:20:56 PM · #18

Originally posted by micknewton:

I went for the B&W because I thought the the colour picture had too many distracting colours in it.

Message edited by author 2004-03-22 13:21:53.

03/22/2004 01:35:06 PM · #19

Originally posted by jenesis:

Moodville & Olympian, yours too, were also very high up on my list. Olympian, I thought your's was very emotional and I'm a fan of Moodville anyways and love the animal series you've been working on lately. Thanks for your input guys! :)

It would be interesting to see if anyone else wanted to share their color versions since there were so many B&W entries, just to see how the treatments can change the mood of the photographs.

Thanks jenesis,
I am at work, but will post my color version this evening.

03/22/2004 01:35:20 PM · #20

Originally posted by Harold1066:

I went for the B&W because I thought the the colour picture had too many distracting colours in it.

I think you definetly made the right choice. While the color version is wonderful (such beautiful hair)the B&W version has more depth and contrast to it. Congratulations on being in the top 20!

03/22/2004 05:18:50 PM · #21

I thought my B&W version had more of a somber mood to it. And you can tell I don't have a shirt on in the color one. The scarf I used didn't quite cover up my shoulder and I thought that would have been distracting.

03/22/2004 05:58:57 PM · #22

Martin, I have to say that I like them both and I didn't even notice the shoulder thing at all. But I agree with what you were saying about the B&W version adding to the feeling you were trying to convey. Thanks for sharing. :)

justine

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

03/22/2004 06:09:41 PM · #23

color

b&w

03/22/2004 06:14:24 PM · #24

Originally posted by justine:

color
b&w

B&W is my choice justine. Definitely has more ATTITUDE! Great shot....Martin

heida