My kids photos suggestions please

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

05/18/2008 07:00:29 PM · #1

PLease help me. I always think the B/W conversion is off. I am not sure if what I am doing is getting the results I often see on this site. Any suggestions. Everytime I try to bump up the midtones I seem blow out the hilites. I need some sort of work flowthat I can follow to achieve some good results.

Also can anyone tell me how I can process several fotos to achieve the exact same conversion so that the tones are the same on all the fotos of that particular session. Thanks For any input.

Message edited by author 2008-05-18 19:04:54.

Louis

Nikon D800

05/18/2008 07:12:08 PM · #2

How are you converting? What software? Need details to give advice.

Mephisto

Nikon Coolpix A

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

05/18/2008 07:13:36 PM · #3

outstanding work, your lighting is excellent! left you some comments :)

Monique64

Canon EOS-30D

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

05/18/2008 08:18:59 PM · #4

These are great High Key black and white shots. What dont you like? Are they too high key for your liking.

Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom

05/18/2008 09:00:09 PM · #5

Originally posted by Louis:

How are you converting? What software? Need details to give advice.

With these shots, I set to B/W in camera and then used Raw Image Task to adjust slightly, Then open in CS2.
I adjust Levels and then Do some Contrast work with Dodge/Burn. ANd then sharpen.

Maybe its just me but I find that there is too much gray in the pics. Or have I been looking at them too long?
quote from Monique
These are great High Key black and white shots. What dont you like? Are they too high key for your liking.

No I like the high key. I think its the mid tones I don't like.

Analogy: Doesn't food always taste better when someoone else makes it for you? I think its the same with the processing for me.I find that The really good B/W I see on here are far better than what I have done here. I want to know how to achieve the same results.

one2one

Olympus E-5

05/18/2008 10:11:20 PM · #6

I wouldn't bother converting in-camera. Use ACR and PS for that.

I think these shots are great and the blacks and whites are spot on. Lighting is superb too.

Left you a couple comments.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

05/19/2008 09:56:05 AM · #7

bump for morning people

Louis

Nikon D800

05/19/2008 10:59:53 AM · #8

Yes, you'll get more mileage out of converting your pictures to black and white in software. Lightroom provides a great workflow for converting multiple shots using the same settings.

gwe21

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED

05/19/2008 12:14:20 PM · #9

Your lighting is very good. I love the high key b/w, but I love high key in general too.

I would recommend you shoot in normal mode, not bw in camera. Shoot in RAW or JPEG and use your editing program (PS) to convert to b/w. I personally use a gradient map to convert, because that is what I like. If you look under the tutorials here there is a tutorial on different ways to convert to b/w.

Also if there are areas in your photos that you feel are too blown out, use the "move the light" tutorial that

idnic did. It helps to darken the lighter areas of your photos.

I think those photos are very good!

tpbremer

Nikon D80

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED DX

05/19/2008 12:34:32 PM · #10

I like the pics, so I thihnk you are on the right track.

If you want some reading material, check this book. Lots of different methods for conversion, handling channels, etc. I keep finding new things to try and I've paged through the book tons of times.