martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Hello Everyone
A few of you have seen my other post and they consist of Birds and landscapes. Over Christmas I had a chance to photograph the grandkids and my kids also. I'll be the first to admit I don't do People, but have a hunger to learn as I love these types of photos. I recently posted these shots and the folks thought they were good looking kids. Not to take away from that, but I'm asking how's it looking from you folks that do this for a living or should we say most of your shooting. Am I cropping these way to much?? I kinda like them on the dark side, but is that bad?? and I guess what's the worst things about the shots. I am using on camera flash but mostly -1 to -2 exposure as I hate the flashy look the flash gives.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Hello Fstop, I'm more of a candid, snapshot kind when it comes to people so I shouldn't offer any critique. Comment wise I think tight cropping is acceptable and more of a personal preference. Hopefully, CaptainC will take a look and offer his critique. Great looking kids and that last image is a winner, what an expression and what a wee pixie! 8-)

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

They look great to me. ice looking kids!!
Erv

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Well.......this is just my opinion. I like 1, 2, and 5. I think 4 is cropped too tight although you got the near eye in focus.
The profile of the young man is way too dark - not just dark, but flat.

For B&W portraits, it is pretty safe to say you need a definite black and a definite white (without being blown out).

I have attached the histogram of #2 - which, by the way is a killer image!
Look how much room is on the right - that indicates there are no real highlights. You want to move the right pointer over to where it touches the right edge of the data. If you hold down the option key when you move the pointer, the screen will go black and you will see where the highlights start to reach white. don't go too far.

The second upload is my estimation of how the Levels adjustment should look.
Note the black slider on the left is over to the left edge of the data. It shows how the image looks with the correction.

Good B&W is not easy to do - it is very important to get black blacks and white whites. The Grayscale conversion in most software is the WORST way to convert.

Dialing the flash back -1 or -2 EV is a good move, but it still makes for a very flat image but you have at least avoided nuking them.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Thank you so much for your Feedback on this CaptainC. I really need direction in my B&W and people photos. PS I use Aperture 3 and usually only dial back the saturation to get B&W then play with the tones. Any B&W software you would recommend?? Or is the whole secret to just pay more attention to the Histogram...

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

THE BEST converter is NIK Silver Efex Pro2. Hands down. The versatility of this program is astounding. Try the 30 day trial and go to the NIK software website to view the video demos.
The software gives you control of how the colors render - or more correctly, how YOU want the colors to render in monochrome. It is a plug-in for Aperture, Lightroom, and PS.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Thank you so much.. I went back and adjusted to the histogram in Aperture3. I can see an improvement I think, Please comment.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Yep - you got it.

maxamillion Loc: Hampden Maine

I don't know a lot about black and white but I have to tell you that when I scrolled down to the eyes, the image literally made me catch my breath. It seemed as if in that moment those beautiful eyes spoke volumes to me.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

I love B&W. Done well, it can be beautiful. Done poorly is is just drab. I read a quote once - wish I knew who to attribute it to, "When you photograph in color, you see their clothes, when you photograph in black and white you see their soul."

maxamillion Loc: Hampden Maine

I like the quote. I may start experimenting with a little more black and white. I have actually only done it once though my son does it quite often because he prefers it. Perhaps the quote will be the catalyst for some of my own black and white work.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Thanks Maxamillion, I think that's what draws me to these type of photos also, Here's another one I captured this holiday.

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

I agree with the Captain, black and whites need to have white and black, your first round has grey and darker grey. A good b/w is an art, I keep trying but have yet to come close to what it should be.

I do like the pictures, #2 is my favorite.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Thank you much, I can see the greys as you mentioned, really helpful info. This will also help me work on my landscapes as well. Thanks again

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

Ted Grant