Robert

anonymouscuban

This is Robert. 10 years ago, we became next door neighbors. Two months after we moved into our home, Robert and I had become best friends. He sold and moved away almost a year ago after getting divorced and getting laid off. Double whammy!! He stopped by tonight for a couple of beers and to catch up; its been about 2 months since we got together.

Aside from the alimony, he's doing pretty well. He has a great new job and is dating and enjoying life. He's always been the type of person that is in a perpetual good mood, even through the tough times but he seems genuinely happier than I ever remember him. It was good to see him.

I convinced him to let me take one photo of him. Just one frame. That's all he gave me but I think I captured him well.

michaelglenn

Awesome capture! I'm glad things are going his way now, and you certainly captured his personality in this frame. Lately your BW processing has been really awesome. It really pops here nicely.

divamum

Yeah, this is a FABULOUS conversion. What're you using these days?

anonymouscuban

Thanks guys. B&W conversion is top secret. No can share. Sorry.


Just kidding. . Well, I first get the shot done in color. Then I use Nik Silver Efex Pro to do the conversion to B&W. I have several presets that I've saved and use depending on the person skin tone. I use them as a starting point they I tweak it a bit using the sensitivity, contract and structure sliders.

Here is the shot in color before conversion:

divamum

Aha! I thought it might be NikSilver. It does something to the whites/brights that no other program seems to "get"

anonymouscuban

Yeah.... Nik Silver is pure awesomeness coded into software.

Hackbone

Great character shot.