Improvements on retouching

So I got upset at myself for not having improved in my retouching... not fast enough for so many months gone by so I spent the last 4 days researching new techniques and learning more about Photoshop. I placed a lot of emphasis on understanding more about black & white conversions and the tools that enable us to create more powerful B&W images.

I don't have much to show for what I've learned but here are some B&W's that have come to fruition recently along with some new ones that I'm experimenting my new techniques on. This is quite unusual for me because when I go into learning mode, I usually hole myself up and cut all contact with the outside world until I'm done learning! Here we go:


Roxy H3DII-31 1/350th f/8.0 ISO100 80mm. B1600 in beauty dish from camera upper left.


Roxy H3DII-31 1/800th f/6.8 ISO100 80mm. B1600 in 40º gridded beauty dish from camera upper left.

Roxy H3DII-31 1/250th f/8.0 ISO100 80mm. B1600 in beauty dish from camera upper left.

Lyz D3/70-200mm f/2.8G 1/200th f/14 ISO200 @150mm. B1600 in 40º gridded beauty dish from camera upper left. B800 rim light camera front right.

Ania D3/24-70mm f/2.8G 1/200th f/5 ISO320 @36mm. ABR800 on axis. B800 rim light camera front left.

Lyz D3/70-200mm f/2.8G 1/200th f/10 ISO200 @155mm. B1600 in 40º gridded beauty dish from camera upper left. B800 rim light camera front right.