BnW Portraits

So my wifes sister asked if i would take some pics so she could put them on her "FACEBOOK" so i decided to take some and edit them abit i told her to come back and when she did she loved them so i am after some veiws from you guys and girls to see what you think?

[IMG]http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/9339/portraitjess1.jpg[/IMG]
Shot with a Pentax K100D

[IMG]http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1806/portraitjess.jpg[/IMG]
Shot With a Pentax K100D

This is my first attempt at portraits and at changing them to BnW so please any feed back is welcome!?!?

Using selective colour on brown eyes doesn't work for me. They need to be vivid blue or green for the effect to have any impact.

I'd agree with RR on that. They don't look awfully sharp but I'd emphasise the look bit as they may well be. If you're happy and she's happy what's not to like?

Mike

Gotta agree on the eyes. Also I don't think the pink lips go so well with the sepia tone.

I also think number 2 is a much more flattering shot of her.

Also there are quite harsh shadows in both images, from your flash? Any chance of some more natural lighting?

PS What's with the marks under her eyes? Is that what the kids round your way are doing these days?

Thanks everyone for the comments as i say its my first mess around with portraits, I can see what you mean about the eyes, to me its not all about vivid changes i like to make it as subtle as possible i just wanted to make a focal point and i like eyes tells you a lot about people so i thought i would give it a go.

The marks under her eyes are ment to make her look like a clown its a big thing here in Canada with the teenagers (or so she tells me there is a name for it but i don’t care)

There is also shadowing which can be eliminated. Try using the Butterfly configuration, and compare results to the pictures you took.

Ok, Intervention time:

back ground elements distracting..
posing not very flattering..
lighting not flattering...
creative processing...not gonna fix the above mistakes, and should be done over....

here's what I'd suggest:

have this young lady stand in front of a large window (prefer north facing or overcast daylight).......
get yourself right up to the window as well, so the light from the window has some direction (like 45 deg from the cameraback position)...
now make sure there are no distracting background elements, get somebody to hold up a sheet if you must).

do a manual color balance off a sheet of white paper, take an exposure (in av or manual) reading off your palm in the same light hitting your subject and open it up a stop for a starting point...

now place your subject in front of the window, facing the window looking out the window... (there is a nice profile shot)... then have the subject turn here hips AWAY from you about 45 deg, and step back a little with the leg furthestfrom the camera..., have her look over her shoulder towards the camera....you need to have the camera above her eye level, there is your next shot (for head and shoulders/cleavage)..

lastly have her shift her weight onto her back leg (furthest from the camera) and have her now turn her shoulders and hips towards the camera, until her face is 2/3 profile in the camera with the light falling on the far side of her face there is your last shot.....
always focus on the eyes and closest eye if you have to choose...
use a reflector to fill shadows if needed

now go back add what ever psing you like to taste...

when it comes to portraits, photoshop is the seasoning you add to a good soup, for flavour not a dose of salt to cover up a burnt soup...

your next try will be much better, i assure you.

where in canada you from?