My first B&W

[stephen]

Comments on this please My first B&W so be brutally honest ...not

[bouyant_clown]

IMO the B+W works well! there is good / interesting shadow / light about the face.
the background does nothing (esp in B+W), perhaps a closer crop around the face?

[xerubus]

i think the black and white conversion works well.. but it seems to be lacking a bit of punch... perhaps a little flat? add a bit of contrast to try and get the shot to pop. just my thoughts.

cheers

[sirhc55]

Nice capture but certainly needs some contrast boost

[Poon]

I love it.
The dark tree makes the strong highline of face.
But the sky is a little bit too much.
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regards
poon

[wendellt]

as a suggestion half of what makes a good contrasty photograph is the search for good light, if the light is not near ideal doesn't matter ewhat you do with the camera you will get a flat image, if you like a more contrasty search for good light, position your subject where the light works off the subject best and then take the shot, don't be afraid to experiment it's the only way to learn.
Now that said if you like a muted look, the image works fine as it's shot of the way things were, the image is true to itself.

As one of my rules i am always in search for good light if i find it i shoot whatever is in the vacinity of it.

[Aussie Dave]

Stephen
the DOF is nice however, I find the bright sky to be distracting. The contrast is also lacking (as mentioned earlier).

Try adding another +15 to 20 on the contrast and see what you think. You lose a bit of detail from the trees in the background, however you could always mask out the background and only boost the contrast to your subject.

Also, did you adjust your "levels" prior to converting to B&W ? That may also help a little

[Nnnnsic]

Nice image, but it does seem flat.

Play with the curves and contrast a bit.

[stephen]

Thanks guys i will go back and have a play as you have suggested.I did not reallly alter anything in pp (curves ,contrast) as im still learning all that but i think the sky being a little blown is distracting and i will maybe try a closer crop.Thankyou for the CC
Stephen

[stephen]

I have added contrast and cropped a bit off the sky is this better/worse/same???? Cheers Stephen

[blacknstormy]

Hey Stephen - I like the second image - has picked up and is not as flat
Rel