Concerning Portraits - Post Processing

[Canon88]

Why does this photograph I have taken lack professionalism?

http://silverskies07.deviantart.com/...rance-69439454

I am so annoyed with only the 'Gray and White' images I get from photoshop. I would like to learn, or at least get an action of some kind, to produce dynamic, professional-grade black and white images.

[Roadrnr]

I think it really depends on how you are processing the image to b&w within photoshop. After doing a couple of quick edits of your b&w version, I came up with the attached. I darkened up a few spots and lightened up her face....nothing major.

The original looked a little flat IMO, that and I prefer a tighter crop as well

EDIT to add: Depending on what I'm doing will depend on how I'm going to convert my b&w image. Sometimes, I really like to use Greg Gorman's version http://www.gormanphotography.com/bw_conversion.pdf (PDF file)

[rogerfsmith]

There are so many ways to create B/W shots in PS as well as variants that its sort of a whole course in using PS. Here for example is one way to approach you shot:

This example uses the NIK Efex filters to quickly add a glow to the photo and to alter the contrast a bit. I also re-cropped to get a better composition.

Cheers,
Roger

[The Philos]

My go, with an 8x10 crop, diffusion glow, soft light duplicated background layer set to soft light, and finally it's tinted. Did a quick job of removing the cell phone too.

[ShaneKislack]

Who said it lacks professionalism. I think it looks pretty good. The one thing you could do to make it better is dodging and burning. The greats of the past spent days in the dark room trying to get one pic right.

[MicWayWal]

Stephen,

I think a lot will depend on how you created the B&W in the first place. The image looks very flat to me. Photographing in an area of grass & trees means there is a lot of "green light" around that muddies skin tones. Those areas make it hard to get a classic B&W with pure blacks and clean whites.
The image has a lack of fill light. That makes the range of tones to wide for digital to cover. That is why the sun is overexposing the area on her hair, shoulder and right arm.

What method did you use to create the B&W? i.e.; Desaturate command, Change to greyscale mode, Hue/Saturation adjustment, or Channel Mixer?
Why don't you throw up the color image so we can show you what can be done.

[CincoJoe]

There are so many different ways to create BW in photoshop. No one way is the right way or wrong way. Just practice until you get the look you like.

[MicWayWal]

Originally Posted by CincoJoe

There are so many different ways to create BW in photoshop. No one way is the right way or wrong way. Just practice until you get the look you like.

Joe,
You are right. But some methods you have no control on how the shades of grey will be determined, while other methods offer you total control on how it will look.

[CincoJoe]

True but that's only going to come from experience in Photoshop. My point was just dig in and learn.

[dartlrt]

Here is a website that you can get a plug-in for B&W in photoshop, http://www.powerretouche.com/ I haven't tried it, but it came recommended fromsome old time B&W soup photographers. They said they can use this plug-in and finally get what they use to get when working with film.