Black and Whites. Can soft be ok?

[tmshots]

My friend and I were talking about a b/w of mine and he said sharpness is essential for contrast. I agree to a point but found this one more well played as it was. What are your thoughts on this?

[Andy]

sharp is good, but not an absolute req't. your shot is lovely.

here's one of mine, do you like it?

http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/2575593-M.jpg

lots more b&w here (http://williams.smugmug.com/gallery/66037/1)

andy :andy

[tmshots]

I do. You seemed to have pulled on the same aproach as I in a softer more warmer tone.

[damonff]

Here's a b/w of mine that isn't sharp...but I think it's effective...

http://www.nomadphotographystudios.com/photos/3623625-M.jpg

Not sharp at all...notb/w either...duotone but the same idea...

http://www.nomadphotographystudios.com/photos/3516078-M.jpg


A really sharp one...

http://www.nomadphotographystudios.com/photos/3228965-M.jpg

And blurry...

http://www.nomadphotographystudios.com/photos/3646544-M.jpg

And one more sharp...

http://www.nomadphotographystudios.com/photos/3270014-M.jpg

I hope this helps with your perspective...

[AltPro]

sharp is good, but not an absolute req't. your shot is lovely.

here's one of mine, do you like it?

http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/2575593-M.jpg

lots more b&w here (http://williams.smugmug.com/gallery/66037/1)

andy :andy Andy, I really like this shot. I like how you captured her face, the tilt and the lighting. Her slight smile lends to the look of her totally being lost in the sounds she is listening to. The COBY earphones placed low still prominant in placement, yet not "in your face."
Your contrast and tonal range is beautiful, the whites white, yet not blown away, and the blacks being a true rich black, with endless grays.
The cropping which allows us a peek at her hair, a blonde... and in the shadows of her glasses, her eye-- you can still make out the creases at the under lid.
The softness of this image, adds to it, and makes it not appear soft at all, but rather, ephereal.
An AD? Very nice! Kudos.


ginette

[wxwax]

Andy, I assume there's more going on in that photo than just softening?