Critique Wanted Color or B & W

I'm glad this thread of Antonio's was brought up again and you know what - I've changed my mind and now cast my lot with the color version. I think olli's and Mayank's points are well taken. I always felt the connection with the shrine in the background but I'm with you on it being stronger in color.

Pictor, it was the same with me in film. My area was color printing from color negatives...and I loved it, slides, too. Digital is a challenge with color especially depending upon the camera and one's expertise with post processing...OK, it's a challenge in black and white, too - for me.;)

P.S. Welcome SeanStacey!
 
On a similar theme, I've never been able to decide between colour or b&w for this shot of a homeless man's possessions in Munich. On the one hand the b&w seems appropriate for the starkness of his situation. On the other, the colour brings out better, I think, the winter setting and seeing his meagre possessions in colourful plastic bags seems somehow more poignant. Any thoughts?

View attachment 33525

View attachment 30004

LX3 ISO160 f2.8 1/100 12.1mm
 
Tough choice. I tend to agree initially with the color version making the juxtaposition more obvious... I saw these earlier but wasn't sure which I preferred.

Now coming back on, here's my current point of view: If I may, I think both versions would be even more powerful if you cropped in on each side - on the left still allowing the raised edge of the different sidewalk and the column to show (think of making the edge come out to the corner of the crop on the lower left?), and then in on the right side excluding the large branch that leans in from the right...so that we only see the delicate tree inside the snow covered courtyard. Of course this is just my two cents.;) I'd also give some more punch to both the color and black and white - bringing down the highlights and making the colors stronger, and the blacks and darker tones a little more pronounced (clarity?) - then, I'd compare them.

Your image is excellent. The homeless man's world in the shopping cart, with his bicycle and all of his belongings against the wrought iron fence...the snow, the leaves and the heaviness of all that he has, let alone his existence versus the delicate lines of the bare trees and bushes and those bars and designs of the fence - it's all really compelling. I hope you don't mind my suggestions and you certainly may disagree. I believe it is the artist who needs to be the one who sees and translates what he or she sees and that they are always the people whose vision is what counts. But since you asked about the color vs b&w, I figured I'd give you just a little bit more, olli, because I like this photograph so much.

I'm still not sure which I'd prefer - black and white or color, but I think color.:)
 
Don't mind at all. Very happy to have your input. I will have another look at the image and maybe repost here in a day or two.
 
I mess around "all day long" with B & W - trying trying trying to achieve something - but always tend to prefer the colour

bull_fight_practise.jpg
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)


bull_fight.jpg
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
 
Olli,

I prefer the color version. I also agree with BB's suggestion to crop slightly the left side of the photo, but would not crop the right side.

My two cents worth...

Very nice shot, in both color and B&W.

Regards,

Antonio
 
I like this discussion because it's making me think and reconsider some of my own photographs, as well as those posted here. Which do I like and why? What's right from one person's point of view doesn't have to make it for another's.

In the earlier part of this discussion there the concept of intent came up, at least I'm pretty sure it did. What was the photographer's intent - how did they see the image? Was it envisioned in black and white or color? I can say for myself that I don't usually think about color or black and white, as matter of fact I don't think I ever do. I see something that makes me want to take the picture. I see it, I take it. For the last few months I've been drawn more to black and white, though I'm not sure why. But I still really love color, too.

Here are two versions of the same image. I'd be interested in people's reactions, if they have any leaning towards one or the other. I think I will put them in their own posts to let them stand alone a bit more.

5084202295_13cd0e0b67_b.jpg


Leica X1 in black and white
 
P.S. Bill, I believe I prefer your courtyard of children in black and white. I'm more aware of that shaft of light coming in from the right and see the children more clearly and as individuals living in that moment. For me the color is distracting, but that's only my point of view.
 
I may have lightened up the dunes a bit too much. I was trying out a neutral density filter in Color Efex...but you know, I think I like it. The sun was definitely super strong that day - when it finally broke through!

I'll say no more right now.
 
BB

that X1 thing is not bad, (well it's a Leica I hear you say)

Much prefer the B & W - the clouds are really effective and the building is just in the right "balance" plus it's good that the grass is not a feature, (IMHO anyway)

nice shot
 
Thanks Bill. Yes, now that I don't have the camera anymore....I'm getting to bring out some photos that I like, too. Thanks for your input re the black and white version.:flowers_2:
 
BBW said:
Thanks Bill. Yes, now that I don't have the camera anymore....I'm getting to bring out some photos that I like, too. Thanks for your input re the black and white version.:flowers_2:
Click to expand...

Do I understand you correctly, that you don't have the Leica X1 any more? Why?
 
deirdre said:
BBW, in the color version, the grass is emphasized. In the B&W version, the clouds are.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same, and it is so hard to choose between the two.
In the BW version, the sky brings the photo alive, the lighting for the clouds is really something special, but with so much going on up above, the detail and lushness of the grass is completely lost.
In the clour version its the exact opposite, the sky almost goes back to being normal, and it it the ground that draws the eye with the texture and richness of greens...

If my missus could hear me now - she thinks Im the most unobservant person on the planet - admittedly with good reason sometimes :)
 
This has been a really educational thread for me. I've never really warmed to most B&W, but seeing side-by-side examples of both color and B&W has helped show me that different parts of the scene are emphasized and it's a really different picture without color. Sometimes, I simply may not know the underlying reason behind the photographer's choice.
 

Similar threads

pniev
Tetons: Color or B/W?
Replies
8
Views
927
kyteflyer
kyteflyer
AndyH44
    • Like
B&W or Color Sunrise?
Replies
7
Views
590
Bobby T
Bobby T
Luke
    • Like
  • Poll
Sigma do you prefer the color or the b/w on this one?
Replies
12
Views
1K
donlaw
donlaw
Back
Top