BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Rebecca A. Steed		1st client, shooting indoor w/ natural light I'm photographing my first client at his house. I have no studio lights or backgrounds yet. He wants black and white photos, which will have to be converted in Photoshop b/c I have a digital camera, and I'm using natural light. What should my White balance be at, or will it matter if I'm converting? any tips from seasoned indoor/natural light photographers would be greatly appreciated. To love this question, log in above December 08, 2005

Pete H		Hi Becky; A little more info would help here. What camera are you using? Are you trying to create a mood? Is it for the persons profession or just leisure. Are you using a flash? In the home..are the ceilings white and low enough for bounce flash? If you are shooting B&W, white balance will really NOT have a bearing as it refers to the color of light. On location shooting is one of the most difficult assignments to do well. If you intend to have the persons home furnishings as a back drop, you best bring a lot of lights. If not..The simple approach will be the best. 1) Un-Cluttered background. 2) Bounced flash Finally; if you are shooting color digital and simply desaturating in photoshop; this is not the preferred method to produce a B&W photo from color. Again; a little more detail. All the best, Pete To love this comment, log in above December 09, 2005

Rebecca A. Steed		Thanks for replying Pete. I'm using a Canon Rebel and it is for leisure. He wants black and white family photos. We are going to his house, which I haven't seen yet. He said he has a very large window and lots of space. I know he has white walls and white ceilings about 9 feet. I was thinking of getting a white bed sheet and tacking it near the window as a backdrop. I would like to create a mood and try to be creative too. I did consider bounce flash, thank you for the suggestion. Is there a way to convert to black and white in the camera?? Or is there a better way to convert colored to B&W? To love this comment, log in above December 10, 2005

Pete H		Becky, I'm not sure if the Rebel will convert for you in the camera, perhaps someone who owns one can say. Post processing of color digital to B&W usually needs a little "toning." Totally remove the color first and then begin to add a little red filtering with Adobe or whatever you use..Just don't over do it. :) I have also used the 81A warming filter sparsly..It adds a little tone and doesn't look too harsh. B&W straight from the camera tends to look a little "hard." Another method is to de-saturate the image, but not entirely..perhaps 90%...let your eye be the judge. Yes..I would use bounce flash if you can. A white backdrop may work..Just be careful to avoid shadows falling on it. You might try this as well: Stand the family in front of the window. Carefully expose for your subjects only. This will cause the window behind them to be totally blown out...all white...yet the light falling on them from the back will still "rim" light them a tad. Not a bad effect really. Position your subjects so the reflection of your flash is not seen in the window. Hope that helps a little. Pete To love this comment, log in above December 10, 2005

Cyndee Wanyonyi		Hi Becky, You can use your camera to change the settings to BW, but in my opinion, you should take in color, then retone as Pete suggested. Here's a step-by-step tutorial for that... 1. Open new layer under levels - press okay 2. Open new layer under saturation 3. Take desaturation all the way to the left 4. Click okay 5. Click on your levels box in your layers pallette 6. Now use the drop-down menu to select red 7. Drag the slider slightly to the right 8. Use the drop-down menu again to select blue 9. Drag the slider slight to the left 10. Use the drop-down menu again to select green 11. Drag the slider slightly to the left If you don't like the way the sliders go, experiment. This really makes a nice contrasting bw photo. Enjoy and post some pics when you're done. To love this comment, log in above December 10, 2005

Rebecca A. Steed		Thank you so much for your suggestions Pete and Cyndee. I plan to use your advice. I have few more questions. As far as meter reading goes, does skin color matter? For instance, let's say I have a very fair-skinned person, and then a very dark-skinned person. Would I take the reading from the same place (off the face)to get the same effects? And, does it matter whether you are using natural light, studio lights or bounced flash?? Also, Cyndee, the instructions you posted, is that possible in Photoshop Elements? Again, thank you and any suggestions and comments are welcome. To love this comment, log in above December 10, 2005

Cyndee Wanyonyi		Hi Becky, I use this on Elements. Cyndee ><> To love this comment, log in above December 10, 2005

A C		I would meter from a consistant place and bracket the shots if possible. I like to use "channel mixer" in photoshop to convert to black and white. I click the box called "monochrome". I don't know if you have this option in Elements but it is worth looking into. If you have that option I can tell you more, just send me an email. To love this comment, log in above December 17, 2005

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