Young Model

Dramatapix®

Hello...

I'm using Photoshop Elements for my Post Editing. I took this picture of a young model in a teen cabaret yesterday. Can anyone give me feedback on the transposition to black and white, and offer tips on how to do this better in Elements. Thanks in advance.

John Desjarlais

Nice shot, DP. Something funny about her eyes - almost like they were selectively oversharpened.

As for B&W conversions in PSE, most will agree that using a channel mixer gives the most flexibility. You basically play with the R, G, and B channel sliders until you get the tonal balance you're looking for. For people, I usually end up with about a 40:60:0 R:G:B balance, but this can depend on the subject (and their eye color, for instance). Unfortunately, the basic PSE app. doesn't have a channel mixer. However, plugins exist that do this. For the one I use, go to: http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/photoshop-elements-curves.html

hope this helps

Dramatapix®

John Desjarlais wrote:

Nice shot, DP. Something funny about her eyes - almost like they were selectively oversharpened.

As for B&W conversions in PSE, most will agree that using a channel mixer gives the most flexibility. You basically play with the R, G, and B channel sliders until you get the tonal balance you're looking for. For people, I usually end up with about a 40:60:0 R:G:B balance, but this can depend on the subject (and their eye color, for instance). Unfortunately, the basic PSE app. doesn't have a channel mixer. However, plugins exist that do this. For the one I use, go to: http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/photoshop-elements-curves.html

hope this helps

Wow... what a great plug in, and what a difference. Thank you so much!



Brett

Owen

I would have done two things differently.

1) Had her looking in the direction her head is pointed.
2) Taken that annoying choker/band off of her neck!

Owen

John Desjarlais

Wow - glad to see the plug-in worked for you. And yes, the new BW conversion is very dramatic!

Dramatapix®

Owen wrote:

I would have done two things differently.

1) Had her looking in the direction her head is pointed.
2) Taken that annoying choker/band off of her neck!

Owen

I totally agree about the choker. I didn't really notice it til after the shoot.

As far as where her focus it, I appreciate the feedback, but I think her looking into the camera adds to the dramatic nature of the shot.

B~

LittleLew

This is not so much a critique of the shot as a comment on the model.

Her face is without much angularity or shape and it looks much less dramatic than her hair. With the lighting being as flat as it is, her face sort of gets lost.

stephiewilliams

I like the shot posed as it is...I think the hair going out of the frame is a little distracting...would have preferred the ends to stay in. One thing that I am drawn to is the crinkly texture of her lips...any way to fix this in ps?

Dramatapix®

stephiewilliams wrote:

I like the shot posed as it is...I think the hair going out of the frame is a little distracting...would have preferred the ends to stay in. One thing that I am drawn to is the crinkly texture of her lips...any way to fix this in ps?

I wouldn't mind hearing this as well.

SpeshulEd

this might help a little on b&w conversions
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/digital-black-and-white/