recent attempts at monochrome

[chocolic]

I am currently using Gimp and am really trying to improve my skills in converting to black and white. Here is a recent photo that I am happy with, but Im not sure if it is because all the other photos I tried were completely terrible or if it is actually good! I am using the channel mixer and levels to convert. LMK if you have better suggestions for Gimp conversions, and all photo critiques are welcome! Thanks!

[chocolic]

Wierd. The skin become more blotchy after uploading - or am I crazy?

[dumpy]

Wierd. The skin become more blotchy after uploading - or am I crazy?

It is probably happening when converting to JPEG and compressing/resizing. Try compressing the image a bit less

[yairh20]

Why would you want to convert those deep blues to B&W?!

[chocolic]

It is probably happening when converting to JPEG and compressing/resizing. Try compressing the image a bit less

That makes sense - i had to resize quite a bit to post them here. thanks!

[chris h]

Why would you want to convert those deep blues to B&W?!

I agree. Those eyes are quite stunning!

[chocolic]

Thanks for the compliments on his eyes - I hear this all the time. I guess as a mom who sees them daily, I just want to mix it up a little bit ;)

[Frog]

The eyes are nice but the rest isn't so much in the color.
I like the b/w better and the eyes are still good.

[GB1]

I prefer the B&W. Yes her eyes are quite pretty, but I find the overly warmth of the image too intense and distracting (just too much red!). Anyway, what I really think this photo needs are sharper eyes.. there's almost never an excuse for the eyes not to be sharp, except perhaps if you're shooting for a dreamy, abstract type image. You zoomed in to really get the intense expression and I think that works for what it is, but I also wish I could see more of her hair, etc. Hope this helps .. GB

[chocolic]

Thanks for the input - this is what I really want from you guys! It is too warm, isnt it. In the orignal, he just looks really washed out, so I pumped up the warmth - i guess too much. I am having a hard time getting eyes sharp, even though that is where i ALWAYS focus.

Is it possible that thee is something wrong with my lense _ i shoot tons of faces and this one above is about as sharp as i have ever gotten eyes. Or am I just a moron.. lol

[GB1]

chocolic - If you look at your image here, it appears that the eyes may be as sharp as any other spot. So it might not be a focus issue or a depth-of-field issue at all, but instead a shutter speed issue. Unless you're using a vibration reduction lens, you should always shoot at least as fast a shutter as the focal length of the lens. If you have a 70-200mm zoom for example and shoot it at 200mm then the slowest your SS should be is 1/200 th of second (since there isn't a 1/200, you would select the closest one up, or 1/250 th).

[chocolic]

chocolic - If you look at your image here, it appears that the eyes may be as sharp as any other spot. So it might not be a focus issue or a depth-of-field issue at all, but instead a shutter speed issue. Unless you're using a vibration reduction lens, you should always shoot at least as fast a shutter as the focal length of the lens. If you have a 70-200mm zoom for example and shoot it at 200mm then the slowest your SS should be is 1/200 th of second (since there isn't a 1/200, you would select the closest one up, or 1/250 th).

Thanks for this info. Its been awhile since my college courses, so I forget a little year by year. I checked my settings on this and it was shot at 55mm, the shutterspeed was 125 and the iso was 280. I then just took some test shots of my older son and shot at 55mm, but the lower light ended up requring iso 400. these were definitely grainer when blown up but the eyes are still much sharper than the other photo. I'd love to find a refresher course!! Thanks again!

[chocolic]

They are a little softer after resizing them down to post here, but my new shots definitely have sharper eyes. I will just have to pay closer attention.