New York Busker: I've wavered over which forum to post this in. I'm looking for advice on whether this photo needs more PP or not. I don't do a whole lot of B&W, so I'm not sure if...

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

I've wavered over which forum to post this in. I'm looking for advice on whether this photo needs more PP or not. I don't do a whole lot of B&W, so I'm not sure if this contains enough range of black to white or if it's a muddy mess. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Walt

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rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I think you've done well.
--Bob

Whuff wrote:

I've wavered over which forum to post this in. I'm looking for advice on whether this photo needs more PP or not. I don't do a whole lot of B&W, so I'm not sure if this contains enough range of black to white or if it's a muddy mess. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Walt

Toleman

It is far from a muddy mess and an intriguing capture. Some might want more detail in jacket but that would tend to take the eye away from the subjects face so if it was mine I would leave it exactly as it is.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

Toleman wrote:

It is far from a muddy mess and an intriguing capture. Some might want more detail in jacket but that would tend to take the eye away from the subjects face so if it was mine I would leave it exactly as it is.

Yeah, that's something I wondered about also, I darkened the jacket to give it more of a range of black rather than a middle gray tone, but struggled over what was the right balance.

Walt

R.G. Loc: Scotland

For me the real decider is the face. Not enough contrast and it would look flat and characterless. Too much and it would look too harsh and unflattering. I think you got it just right.

Some of the alternative sections for B&W portraits are Professional and Advanced Portraiture, People Photography and possibly Street Photography.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Nothing jumps out at me as being too bright-white (grabbing my eye on initial view), and the point you discussed about the jacket seems the right way to go.

Ed Shapiro manages the Pro Portraiture section. He is a commercial photographer with decades of experience. Rmalarz commented earlier in your thread. As you know, he is an expert with black and white, and I would accept his praise any day

Thanks for posting, Walt!

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

To me, it’s a good one.

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

I think its pretty good. I wouldn't mind seeing more form in the dark jacket. Don't know what color the background was, or how you converted. I think I would like a background shade a little darker than the skin tone. Its a matter of personal preference and how you want it to present.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

R.G. wrote:

For me the real decider is the face. Not enough c... (show quote)

Thanks for your comments. His expression and lack of emotion is what draws me to this photo.

Walt

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

Linda From Maine wrote:

Nothing jumps out at me as being too bright-white ... (show quote)

Thanks for your comments Linda. I haven’t visited this section of UHH for quite a while now, so didn’t remember that rmalarz was the B&W expert. I now feel a bit humbled that he approves.

Walt

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

jaymatt wrote:

To me, it’s a good one.

Thank you John.

Walt

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

fergmark wrote:

I think its pretty good. I wouldn't mind seeing more form in the dark jacket. Don't know what color the background was, or how you converted. I think I would like a background shade a little darker than the skin tone. Its a matter of personal preference and how you want it to present.

The background had a lot of bright distracting highlights, so I toned them down quite a bit.

Walt

tommystrat Loc: Bigfork, Montana

IMHO, I think the hand has as much visual and "story-telling" interest as any other part of the image. As a musician, I have a special affinity for the role hands play in making magic... As a b&w enthusiast, I think your combination of lighting, subject and tones is compelling and interesting - good work all the way around!

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

As usual by the time I get on the Hog everybody has said what needs to be said. I think it is anything but a muddy mess. Great subject, wonderful capture and really well done PP. No one could ask for more.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

tommystrat wrote:

IMHO, I think the hand has as much visual and "story-telling" interest as any other part of the image. As a musician, I have a special affinity for the role hands play in making magic... As a b&w enthusiast, I think your combination of lighting, subject and tones is compelling and interesting - good work all the way around!

Thank you for your comments. The more I look at it, I think I need to increase the exposure on the neck of the musical instrument to give it a contrasting value to the jacket. I may work a bit more on that.

Walt