Poseur

[MarieV]

I have recently purchased Aperture software (felt Photoshop etc would be too advanced for me) to try to learn how to PP my images based on all the great advice I read on this great forum. I took this shot some time ago, using natural light, and would appreciate all C and C to help my endeavours to improve. I see a lot of members use Silver Efex to convert images to black and white and wonder would it be of benefit to me as I often convert my images (particularly portraits) but so far not happy with the results! Many thanks.








Canon 5D, ISO 400, 100mm macro, F5, I/320

[Kodiak]

I have recently purchased Aperture software (felt Photoshop etc would be too advanced for me) to try to learn how to PP my images based on all the great advice I read on this great forum. I took this shot some time ago, using natural light, and would appreciate all C and C to help my endeavours to improve. I see a lot of members use Silver Efex to convert images to black and white and wonder would it be of benefit to me as I often convert my images (particularly portraits) but so far not happy with the results! Many thanks.

Hello Marie,

To get good B&Ws, one starts with good colours. When you have a good colour
photograph, then you may hope for a proper B&W.

In this case, the white balance of the colour shot is wrong… so it will impair
the monochrome rendition. Just try this correction and show your result.

[MarieV]

Thank you Kodiak - this is exactly the sort of advice I am looking. I can appreciate how good colours can effect a conversion and the colour in this image was not good to start with as it was with sunlight coming through an adjacent window but I will work on it later and show you the result.

[John 2]

Also, be aware of that right ear. At the moment it is a bit of an eye catcher. Just needs toning down a bit. Marie

[Donald]

To get good B&Ws, one starts with good colours. When you have a good colour
photograph, then you may hope for a proper B&W.

I would very much endorse Daniel's comment here.

Some people find it odd that I go out with a WhiBal card around my neck and start my shoots by taking a photo of the card, when what I'm shooting is going to end up as a B & W image. Why? For the very reason that Daniel has pointed out.

When I know the colour is right, I can then start working it to get it to the stage where I think it will make for a good B & W conversion. That can mean adjusting saturation, hue, vibrancy etc. My workflow sees me doing all of that at the RAW processing stage.

[MarieV]

Hhhhhmmmm, not much of an improvement. I guess I will just have to be more aware of the white balance before taking a shot and, in the meantime, practice conversions on images with stronger colours! Thank you Kodiak (Daniel) and Donald for your good advice.

[Kodiak]

Hhhhhmmmm, not much of an improvement.

Did you take that in RAW?

[ShaneS]

Even if it wasn't taken in RAW I suspect that the color balance could be corrected in Aperture but I'm not sure as I don't have that software. The color image also seems a bit overly saturated to me but that might change when the white balance is corrected.

Such a pensive look for a your person though...nicely seen Marie

[MarieV]

Did you take that in RAW?

Unfortunately not - jpeg only!

[Kodiak]

Unfortunately not - jpeg only!

Well, that's too bad! Anyways, I tried to correct yout take and this is the result:



By reducing the overtones, I succeeded to trade them for some micro-contrast!
With a RAW file, results would be far better.

[MarieV]

Well, that's too bad! Anyways, I tried to correct yout take and this is the result:



By reducing the overtones, I succeeded to trade them for some micro-contrast!
With a RAW file, results would be far better.

Thank you again Kodiak - it has sharpened the image in a way I couldn't and I also take on board the difference shooting in RAW can make in PP. Apart from the white balance issue, I tried to capture this image with both eyes in focus and is this the correct area of the face to concentrate on when taking a portrait?

[bnnrcn]

Nice trial Marie, I think you will get there soon

[MarieV]

Thank you Shane - as you can from my latest effort I have a lot to learn. Yes, I think the title I gave my grandson is very apt!!

[Kodiak]

Thank you again Kodiak - it has sharpened the image in a way I couldn't and I also take on board the difference shooting in RAW can make in PP. Apart from the white balance issue, I tried to capture this image with both eyes in focus and is this the correct area of the face to concentrate on when taking a portrait?

There is no law about this but common consensus:
• focus, in general, on the closer eye
• focus on the eye that is in the light reading area
• at around ƒ8, one should get both eye in focus

Since the eyes are the most important feature on the face, it is generally the
point of focus… but again, there is no law. I have seen so many pictures where
the focus was elsewhere and these were also fantastic takes!

[MarieV]

Many thanks Binnur - I have learned so much since becoming a member of CnC but still have a long way to go. Appreciate your comments.