b/w vs color - cant decide...

andreas.pichler

andreas.pichler

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...sometimes its clear, but sometimes its difficult:
Which suits better, color or black and white?

I am curious about your estimations...

Epson RD1 with CV 4.5/15

EPSN9396.JPG


EPSN9396_bw.JPG
 
Thanks for quick comment, back alley.
Ja, I am lost as well - the color shot is ...hmmm, more colorful, but the graphical structure of the heaven, the four couples sitting on the bench...which is the "good"c shot (assuming that it is a good shot at all).
Or is the saying right that a good photographer is a good one because he does not presenting his bad shots?
But: I really want to have feedback - improve me, please, bad feedbacks are welcome!

Cheers, Andreas

PS: Location: Public park downtown Duesseldorf, Germany
 
The color pic does not talk to me. The B&W could be interesting with a bit more structure IMHO. Matter of tastes though.

2g5tewz
 
If it was a great photo I'd probably prefer it in black and white ... I'm not saying it's not a good pic but if it was a standout the decision would be simpler IMO.

Colour is a strange thing ... personally it's taken me a long time to feel comfortable shooting it ... whereas black and white has always felt very natural.

Joe ... those days of shooting black and white film and developing it yourself must seem a long way away. You seem so contented with your RD-1's these days. :)
 
For this paritcular photo, I prefer the B&W. The color image seems flat to me.

However, in gerenal, when I had my R-D1s, I preferred the color images that came fro it, especially when using the CV 35/1.2 lens. See the "Everyday Egypt" gallery in my website -- color images were all shot with R-D1s and 35/1.2
 
Everybody hates me because I think you can do (much) (very much) better with a digital capture NOT converted by the camera (and this includes JPEGs from non RAW cameras) but processed by PSE, PS, or many other editing programs.

Here are some things that I found in the past.

1. Channel Mixer in PS (red 20, green 50, blue 5: to start)
2. This kind of auto plug-in program for PSE, go to B&W conversion.
http://www.photo-plugins.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=68&Itemid=43

3. Unsharp mask at: amount 20, radius 50, threshold 0; this adds adds the little snap that digital conversions lack.

There many other variations (which I have tried and would be happy to supply) that can be done but you will get started with this. Please don't settle for out of camera conversions (after all if you shoot it in color you can easily desaturate and get the same poor shot, but you can't go back and improve it). At least if you want something that is good.
 
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I rather like the color one, but would prefer the figure in red to be wearing white instead. :)
 
Interestingly the vignettting is far less of an issue in teh BW conversion. In the color shot I found it too distracting.
 
Thank you very much for your comments so far. I have tried out John conversion settings, the photo become more crisp I like it more this way:

EPSN9396_2.JPG
 
My vote for the color version here just BECAUSE of the red shirt.
Otherwise, a reworked B&W would be an alternative for me, with red filter and more structure (a quick try with SilverEfex)
Unbenannt-1.jpg

Cheers

Carsten
 
I couldn't easily decide between the two shots in your first post but, seeing your re-worked BW made the choice easy for me--the "adjusted" BW is, I think much better than either of the first two. The color shot could probably be better with some similar editing to the second BW. I don't mean the exact manipulations but rather a more dramtic sky and maybe a bit darker over all.
Rob
 
I think that the color version works better than the monochrome version. In B&W there has to be something to attract the eye - shape, contrast, movement, etc. which this photo lacks. In color the pleasing subtlety of the palette makes the picture, whereas I find it kind of ordinary, and wouldn't give it a second glance, in monochrome.
 
I find that the discoloration along the edges of the picture due to light fall-off have a negative effect on the color version. The fall-off is still there in the monochrome, but it is not objectionable.
 
Chris101 said:
I find that the discoloration along the edges of the picture due to light fall-off have a negative effect on the color version. The fall-off is still there in the monochrome, but it is not objectionable.
Click to expand...
Looking at it again, I think you're right, Chris.
 
I like the B&W more for this photo... like many have said, a personal choice.

B&W is definitely more easily manipulated post-shot, especially to bring out contrast and structure. It makes the photo simplier by decreasing distraction and increasing abstraction. This photo being flat, lends itself to black and white. The textures of the clouds become more obvious and alluring.

(just to be on the fence... I shoot more color than black & white overall)
 
I think the different greens turn gray of the various tree also makes for a more interesting foreground.
 
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