Wow ... the Elle series generated a lot of IM's and e-mails for me. People asking all kinds of questions. Thought it would be easier to answer them here as some asked the same question. As I mentioned before, I am lazy. Why answer twice when I can post once? :) Will split each answer up into a seperate post.

Had quite a few people ask me this. The answer is, yes. I convert from the very start from Raw in B&W. I use Phase One's CaptureOne DSLR to convert my Raw images over for use. C1 DSLR is a color managed application, so I can use any color profile I want. For my B&W conversion, I have installed 2 B&W color profiles. These profiles map colors directly to B&W. [See above image] Why do I do it this way? Because thinking in B&W is different from thinking in color. If I don't have to pay attention to color and only concentrate on the B&W, it makes it easier for me. That may just be me.

This came from a fellow C1 DSLR user ... the answer is, yes. You can easily switch back and forth between the color and B&W profiles. No different than switching between any other color profile. That said, I find it tedious to do that and so I installed C1 DSLR twice (just used a different directory name for the 2nd install). So, I have 2 icons, one for B&W and the other for color [color image above].

yes, the Elle series was shot in a public place (Olympic National Park). Everything I have read says that photographing nudes in National Parks is legal. US State Parks are different. Check with the Parks Dept. in your state to find out their rules. Some don't even allow thong bikinis. Also, there are many states that require you to get a permit (no matter what you are photographing) if what you photograph is going to be for sale. Again, when in doubt, simply ask them. Better that than having to deal with fines and whatnot. Even if where you go is legal, it is still best to find an area that is off the beaten track and discreet. It will help to keep your photo session less stressful and allow the model(s) to relax more.

Had this question asked a few times. "How much do you pay those models to pose nude?" I really don't have a solid answer for you. I have photographed many models at no cost, just TFP (Time for Print - model poses with the idea that she will receive prints for her time). This usually doesn't happen if you have never done this before. Most real models (ie. not just an amateur who wants a nude photo of herself) will only do this if you have an established portfolis they like. I've also had models just ask me for travel expenses and nothing else. Others I have paid an agreed upon hourly rate. That has ranged over the last 2 years from $15/hr to $35/hr. For non-nude, it should be much easier for most people to get TFP deals with models. As long as you have an okay portfolio (doesn't have to be great). Many models want/need time in front of the camera (they need to practice just like we do). At some point, the models will start to seek you out. It's weird when that happens. I'm at that point now. -=>Donald

One last thing ... sorry about the above image sizes. I thought I made them 600 x 400, but they're 800x600 or. I'm at work so I can't resize them. Sorry guys. -=>Donald

If I was to stand beside you and start shooting with a Nikon 8700 in RAW format... do you have any idea how much of a difference there would be in the final outcome... comparing to your setup. Curious only. I know in the coming months I will be purchasing a DSLR,and lenses. Haven't done all research in the brand yet,but do not want to jump in as fast as I did buying the fixed lens digi.

u give great information. very interesting, donald. i will try converting to b/w and then do toning. see what happens. i have made some nude shots of a friend. she wanted to pose. she was being silly. me too. i pretended i was famous photographer...and she pretended to be famous model. it was funny. well, these shots were taken indoors. nothing glamourous like at national park. but some were natural. i think i didn't do too bad. she would never let me show though. good for practice, however. i'll try that technique on those images sometime...show my friend...maybe she'll like. thanks again donald!!!

"I convert from the very start from Raw in B&W. I use Phase One's CaptureOne DSLR to convert my Raw images over for use. C1 DSLR is a color managed application" I see we are going to need a VERY detailed tutorial... "Raw in B&W"? Does that mean you threw away the Raw color? 8-( Or, is "Raw Color" a Null Concept? "Phase One"??? Last time I tried using any color management other than sRGB, 'chelle whined that there was no contrast or saturation... So you really kept the camera running while Ellie prepared? No wonder she glares at you in some frames! Bad Donald! Bad! "Fellow User" rocks. Encourage to join Forum. [All things considered, excellent job, Donald. You are really mastering this; in technical expertise and aesthetics.]

dB - Well, all other things being equal I would say the biggest difference would be in image quality. Yours would come out bigger, but mine would come out cleaner with less noise and hence, probably more detail. Reason being that the amount of noise in a digital camera image is mostly generated by the size of the individual cells that make up the image array. The bigger the cells, the less noise and the better the image. While the Nikon 8700 is an 8megapixel camera and the EOS 10D is only a 6.32mp, the Nikon has a smaller sensor array. The 8700's array is 8.80mm x 6.60mm while the 10D's is 22.7mm x 15.1mm. Because of that size difference, the natural output from the 10D is cleaner. Then add in the DIGIC processor of the 10D and you get very smooth output from the 10D. -=>Donald

You can Photograph Me Nude any time You like Donald....Gratis!

Gee ...ummm, thanks Tedzo! :) Misha - No, color data is still in the Raw file, I just don't see it when I do it this way. Think of it like this. A color profile maps the image colors to the profiles output colors. Using a B&W profile, the image colors are mapped to monochrome. The colors are still they, except they are masked by the profile. Once it is converted, it is all monochrome with no color data in it. "So you really kept the camera running while Ellie prepared? No wonder she glares at you in some frames! Bad Donald! Bad!" Huh? Not sure I follow. -=>Donald

"The colors are still they, except they are masked by the profile." All of the colors are black. It's not that the colors aren't there. It's just imagination they lack. ...don't take my Kodachrome away...