Critique on B&W conversions

[W00DY]

Hi All,

I would appreciate your feedback on the conversion of these images to B&W. This is the first real time that I have manually converted an image (rather than using an action or preset).

The conversion was done in Adobe Lightroom. I'm here to learn (especially about B&W)!!!



Image #1


Image #2 (more fill flash!!!)


Image #3
 BTW - feel free to comment on the image as well if you like, but I already know what is wrong with them and know they are not the best

EDIT - updated with colour versions as requested by Oz

Cheers,
W00DY

[Oz_Beachside]

to comment on a conversion, would be helpful if we would see pre and post images.

[W00DY]

to comment on a conversion, would be helpful if we would see pre and post images.

Ok, give me a sec

[W00DY]

to comment on a conversion, would be helpful if we would see pre and post images.

There you go Oz... comment away

[Nnnnsic]

I would say the only one you've really got working for you is the second. They look like they're being passed through a red filter to pull that sort of level of black and white tones and in the first, my eye is more drawn to the hand and fixed permanently because of the background's light.

The second image works well, even though it's busy. It works better as a black & white I'd say but it looks like some of the light levels could do with a bit of tweaking in various areas. It's still quite nice.

The third needs a closer crop. While the eye is drawn to the face, most of the top doesn't need to be there. And something about the blown hand just needs to be turned down in curves.

They're not bad black and whites on the whole, though.

[big pix]

I don't know how you did your B&W conversion but there are many ways....... you are heading in the right direction, but overall the B&W look a little flat, all one tone, and lacking in mid tone contrast....... go into levels and move the middle slider to the right and you will add a bit more contrast, play with the middle and right hand slider's to get the result you like......... but there are other way's to convert to B&W that have a lot of control......

[W00DY]

I would say the only one you've really got working for you is the second. They look like they're being passed through a red filter to pull that sort of level of black and white tones and in the first, my eye is more drawn to the hand and fixed permanently because of the background's light.

Yeah I see what you mean, the large chunk of white in the background is distracting. How would I fix part of a black and white image? Would I just select that section in photoshop and use curves? Woudl it look out of place?

The second image works well, even though it's busy. It works better as a black & white I'd say but it looks like some of the light levels could do with a bit of tweaking in various areas. It's still quite nice.

Thanks. I'll have a bit more of a go trying to adjust only part of an image with levels.

The third needs a closer crop. While the eye is drawn to the face, most of the top doesn't need to be there. And something about the blown hand just needs to be turned down in curves.

Yep, agree. I will crop it down a bit and try and fix the arm.

They're not bad black and whites on the whole, though.

Thanks, as I said it was the first time I had converted to B&W manually so it was a little bit hit and miss. I will try some more and see how I go.

Cheers.
W00DY

[W00DY]

I don't know how you did your B&W conversion but there are many ways....... you are heading in the right direction, but overall the B&W look a little flat, all one tone, and lacking in mid tone contrast....... go into levels and move the middle slider to the right and you will add a bit more contrast, play with the middle and right hand slider's to get the result you like......... but there are other way's to convert to B&W that have a lot of control......

Thanks.

As mentioned I only used Lightroom for the conversions and just moved the saturation slider right down and then adjusted fill light, blacks, contrast, exposure etc...

I will try moving them in photoshop and play with the levels and see what I come up with.

Cheers,
W00DY