A comparison of B/W and Colour Shot Versions

[[Geoff Slocock]]

So what are the relative merits in this instance. A wealth of colour does not always help you to appreciate the merits of a composition. Consider Ansel Adams' work, for instance. Do we think that body of work could have been appreciated so much in colour. Yes do we have crisper recognition of outlines of shapes in many black and white versions.

There are instances, too, where colour in a shot makes really significant contribution to how we appreciate it. To my mind each of these versions has a lot going for it. For example, the sky is probably more impressive in the B/W version.

But what are your opinions?

Geoff

[[GRUMPY OLD MAN]]

(29-12-2011 01:06 AM)Geoff Slocock Wrote:  (Duplicate of earlier image automatically replaced with url, in this instance.)

(Duplicate of earlier image automatically replaced with url, in this instance.)

So what are the relative merits in this instance. A wealth of colour does not always help you to appreciate the merits of a composition. Consider Ansel Adams' work, for instance. Do we think that body of work could have been appreciated so much in colour. Yes do we have crisper recognition of outlines of shapes in many black and white versions.

There are instances, too, where colour in a shot makes really significant contribution to how we appreciate it. To my mind each of these versions has a lot going for it. For example, the sky is probably more impressive in the B/W version.

But what are your opinions?

Geoff

Composition is a subjective area of photography I feel, one man's meat is another man's poison. From what I have learnt from what I have read on the forum, but I think your right about B&W in some instances it is right and I like the shot in B&W. There is a feeling of more texture in foreground and in the cloudy sky.

[[cyb]]

(29-12-2011 01:06 AM)Geoff Slocock Wrote:  But what are your opinions?

Geoff

I don't disagree with what you are saying but for me this shot does not work in black and white as there is way too much going on, the detail in the 'jumble' of boats is lost and the horizon looks like it is sloping as you can not distinguish what is land and what is water, unlike in the colour version.

Ansel Adams work is in the main simple landscapes, beautifully shot with a lot of thought to composition. He managed even managed to keep things simple when including main made items such as vehicles, telephone lines, etc. - an inspiration to us all.

[[Geoff Slocock]]

Thanks everyone,

This subject has over the months given me cause to think. I guess too that at more basic experience levels, one is a bit lost for set of criterion for weighing the the two sides of the coin.

Each of our senses are different. So I suppose if a picture ever were exactly half way, then the predisposition of our senses would tend to settle it.

For my part, my eye possibly goes up to the sky and the jumble of boats tends to be just that. Yes they are the stuff that millionaires swan around in; but so what!

The point that Colin raised about the grey scale tones of the island and the water being a bit similar is an issue; but one could for example use Ansel Adams favourite technique of dodging and burning, to sort that little ambiguity out. (that, of course, is a ripe corn field)

Geoff

[[cyb]]

(30-12-2011 01:34 AM)FujimanG Wrote:  However....it's also abused to death as my next shot will illustrate.

Photoshopped to the Max

and I suspect the b/w shot was not only stage but has had a bit of work done on it, but nevertheless works well and is a very nice photo.