Mike's Black and White shots!

[MLlanes]

[Grumbledook]

hey mike,

liking the last shot the best

how are these done, b+w film or you using digital?

if you are using digital, using the camera mono setting or converting in post?

also the first and the flowers shots, they seem a bit blurred, or is this just the DOF you were using?

[MLlanes]

hey, thanks for the reply!
these are using my digital camera. i converted to B&W because i was told to never take pictures in B&W, because i could always convert them later, but you can never convert back if you use B&W on camera.

the shots look a bit blurry because they were both slightly out of focus. the first one was just a test shot trying to do DOF. As for the flower one, i didnt realize it was out of focus until i got home from the trip. but i think it gives it a bit of softness and gentleness to the picture.

[Grumbledook]

what method of conversion are you using ?

not really done any myself though I know there are various ways that produce different looks

[MLlanes]

well, i use Photoshop. i add a black and white gradient map over the image, then i do a levels layer to make it look right and not just bleh.

[alicat08]

I think the dew drops pic is my favorite! All great shots though!

[MLlanes]

heres a couple high contrast ones.





thats my girlfriend in the last one. i had to sneak that shot because she doesnt like her picture taken. =D

[eazym]

the one with the droplets is incredible, by far the strongest thing on the page IMO

[mohwu]

The water droplet one is really fantastic, good lighting, composition, and DOF.

The last few feel really busy. In the last one, you have the figure as a good, simple, stark focal element to contrast the more busy background, but you didn't focus on that, which makes the picture feel awkward.

[MLlanes]

my friend jose gurley. he was shot and killed this past summer at the age of 17.

there was a fight at a party and he was caught in the crossfire.
yesterday was his birthday.



to the right is my baby cousin jack. he gave me his picture as a christmas present.

[MLlanes]

if you want to read about jose, or watch the video of the news story, you can go here.
http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=46966

the americas most wanted website.

[MLlanes]

[purplerose]

I really like that first one with the park bench and the trees. I'm thinking if you play around with cropping to place emphasis on the park bench or the path through the trees. I think some better contrast would help as well.

[carolupus]

wow, I really like the last 2 photos! great atmosphere!