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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> New photographer.. Go easy on this photo.
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11/07/2005 05:09:40 PM · #1
//members.cox.net/kylehughey/testing.jpg

I'm trying to learn how to do quality b&w images... let me know what you think.. and yes it's supposed to be grainy.

Message edited by kirbic - Converted large pic to link.
11/07/2005 05:12:43 PM · #2
Originally posted by hollisterGq:

let me know what you think..


"Go easy" and "What do you think?" when laid together present a dilema. Which would you have?
11/07/2005 05:14:21 PM · #3
just give pointers.. don't just rip on it.
11/07/2005 05:26:23 PM · #4
Originally posted by hollisterGq:

just give pointers.. don't just rip on it.


Several.
1) Lose the God-awful on camera flash. Can you see the subject's shadow? You have a Rebel. Graduate to an advanced shooting mode.
2) Pay attention to distracting backgroung clutter. What is that growing from her head?
3) The compostion could be added to if the girl was leaning back on something to give her a more relaxed look.
4)The corperate sellout band logo on her shirt in no way adds to the mood and may in effect even be an unintentional main focus point.
11/07/2005 05:27:47 PM · #5
Originally posted by nsbca7:

Several.
1) Lose the God-awful on camera flash.


Did you pick the 'go easy' or 'what you think' option?

:)
11/07/2005 05:31:27 PM · #6
Originally posted by jhonan:

Originally posted by nsbca7:

Several.
1) Lose the God-awful on camera flash.


Did you pick the 'go easy' or 'what you think' option?

:)


'what you think'

If I had chosen the other I would have declined to reply.
11/07/2005 05:31:43 PM · #7
i was just wanting comment on the editing of it sorry guess i should have suggested that, but the picture was taken in the hospital the day after her neice was born.. so like i said just give some tips
11/07/2005 06:05:01 PM · #8
i think its very good. im also a new photographer and haven't done anything like that good. maybe you could clone away the t-shirt logo and that thing above the girls head?
11/07/2005 06:08:17 PM · #9
Remember Kids, if it dosent help the photo it hurts it.
11/07/2005 06:10:54 PM · #10
Originally posted by nsbca7:

Originally posted by hollisterGq:

just give pointers.. don't just rip on it.


Several.
1) Lose the God-awful on camera flash. Can you see the subject's shadow? You have a Rebel. Graduate to an advanced shooting mode.
2) Pay attention to distracting backgroung clutter. What is that growing from her head?
3) The compostion could be added to if the girl was leaning back on something to give her a more relaxed look.
4)The corperate sellout band logo on her shirt in no way adds to the mood and may in effect even be an unintentional main focus point.


^ what he said.
11/07/2005 06:10:59 PM · #11
1) Lose the God-awful on camera flash. Can you see the subject's shadow? You have a Rebel. Graduate to an advanced shooting mode.
[/quote]

Nicer might have been: Try to avoid using the on camera flash to avoid unwanted shadows. Experiment with the advanced shooting modes. Higher ISO speeds reduce the need for flash. So does longer exposure time--but you will neet a tripod for this.

Edit--the quote didn't work correctly but it was from nsbca7's post

Message edited by author 2005-11-07 18:13:37.
11/07/2005 06:19:06 PM · #12
Originally posted by chaimelle:


Nicer might have been: Try to avoid using the on camera flash to avoid unwanted shadows. Experiment with the advanced shooting modes. Higher ISO speeds reduce the need for flash. So does longer exposure time--but you will neet a tripod for this.



Actually I was thinking along the lines of opening up the lens a little, but am not sure what lens he has available. And I think the point was taken in a way that won't be forgotten soon. Not trying to be harsh, just frank.
11/07/2005 06:27:35 PM · #13
Hi :-)
To give advice on the edit, it may help to know what b/w conversion method you used. There are many ways to get there. To use simple desaturation, IMO doesn't give much if any control over the tones and overall feel of the b/w. Many folks use a channel mixer adj. layer. Click the monochrome box and then you can adjust the individual color channels to get a fitting tone for the image. Personally, my favorite is doing a duo/tri/quad tone. I think you can get a lot of tone, and a lot of depth to a photo, especially if you tweak the colors you use in their individual curves dialogue box. Then do your normal levels, etc. that you would normally do. I think another big thing to consider in 'quality' b/w, is to choose fitting images for b/w. Some work well, some may be better left in color. The hard part is deciding which sometimes :-) There is a good tutorial on duo/tri tones under 'Learn' on the bar across the top of the home page. Also, try browsing the photos here, find ones that you like the processing and read the photogs comments (if they have them) or even try pming them and ask about it, most people are more than willing to share some knowledge.

edit to add: I guess it might also help to know what software you are using for your processing :-P I use photoshop, and I think many of the different programs have the same or very similar tools.

Message edited by author 2005-11-07 18:30:42.
11/07/2005 06:27:44 PM · #14
Wow! Some of the comments are rather harsh. I suppose that reinforces the old saying "Be careful what you ask for".

Spend some time here (it's addicting anyway), study lots of photos and try to figure out how they were accomplished and try to create the same effect yourself. There are some excellent photographers on this site and there is a lot to be learned if you want it bad enough.

My suggestions are:
1. Try to shoot in available light to capture the mood.

And the basic rules: (ask yourself)
2. What is the subject?
3. How do I focus attention on my subject?
4. How can I simplify (eliminate anything that is distracting)

And last
5. Never give up

11/07/2005 06:28:34 PM · #15
You've recorded a beautiful piece of time here and a special memory. It has the look of a snapshot instead of a portrait. The conversion to B & W looks good with tones from white to black and some detail in the dark areas.

I think the composition could be made stronger by creating a much tighter crop. Crop to the back of mom's head and get rid of the support behind her. Crop in from the left until baby's head is on the 1/3 line (which will also get rid of the distraction on the left. Then crop down a bit from the top into mom's head, keeping mom's eyes on the 1/3 line. Clone out the logo on the sleeve.

The flash on the camera created a harsh shadow behind mom's face. You might be able to use the clone tool to duplicate the rest of the background and bring the same shade up to the face.

Some dodging on mom's hair could bring out the highlight and help increase the detail.

If any of these things sound foreign, feel free to PM me and I'll give you more "how to" details.

Becky
11/07/2005 06:40:01 PM · #16
The niceway: pay attention to the shadows as they may be distracting and avoid to showcase logos as they take away from the interaction from the subject and the baby.

Reality: use avail light or get some additional lights. Coach your subject to relax the pose, interact with the subject. She looks too serious to be looking at a baby. looking from the other direction could have been benefecial, see the profile of the mom and the face of the baby, not the other way around. A soft background (difuse, blurred) would have improved the shot.

Good try, good attempt, got a lot of those in my drawer.

Fred
11/07/2005 06:47:10 PM · #17
11/07/2005 06:53:17 PM · #18
11/07/2005 06:53:19 PM · #19
Gave it a try. Always better to to get it as good as possible in camera, but this is not a shoot over type photo unless she gets pregnant again.

Message edited by author 2005-11-07 18:55:14.
11/07/2005 07:00:19 PM · #20
My edit...


Good attempt...just keep plugging away at it! :)
11/07/2005 07:26:29 PM · #21
Originally posted by laurielblack:

My edit...


Good attempt...just keep plugging away at it! :)


That's the image I was imagining. I do like the vinetting (sp) in the left background.
11/07/2005 07:33:33 PM · #22
I like that crop Laurie. Nice :-)
11/08/2005 12:28:13 AM · #23
thanks! and that wasn't the mom, that was the new aunt.
11/08/2005 09:08:54 AM · #24
I'm new also, but I don't like the lighting and the busy stuff going on in the background. The shadows are kind of harsh too.

I'm learning a lot here and I hope you do too!
11/08/2005 09:13:04 AM · #25
That does look nice laurie! It's a lot quieter.
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