Colour or Black & White

[Peter Ryan]

I took this image on a recent trip to the Little Desert NP. We had lunch by this waterhole, a rare thing in this cast wilderness.

I am going to print the image (A3) for sale at my market stall but cannot work out if I print in colour (although it is almost a monochrome shot) or B & W.

A survey of CiC members will help.

[Shadowman]

I would choose color but I would boost the color temperature a little to boost the foreground color.

[Peter Ryan]

Thanks for the feedback John. I will have a look at that. I did post the B & W in he Mono Comp and it voted quiet well (to my surprise) but I prefer the colour. Thought this was a good way to gauge opinion.

[mythlady]

Well . . . I vote with the monochrome people. I find the patch of blue in the top one distracting, but that's not an issue in the black and white one. My eyes are drawn more to the twisty trees in the bottom one.

[Peter Ryan]

Stop confusing me Elise. I was heading down a comfortable path until you posted.

[MiniChris]

Well, I am going with the monochromers but I think your mid-range grays need a little more snap...and perhaps this is novice attempt...(as to be so presumptious to think I can outprint you...but for the sake of art...)

[Peter Ryan]

I really do appreciate your thoughts and input Chris. I did in fact do a copy like this on my computer but in this post I used the one I posted in the B&W comp. I think if I did a B&W I would print it more like yours but the actual subject was soft on the eye with a light sandy soil and very light coloured trees but I agree it benefits from some punch. The paper I use is quiet contrasty so something in between might work well.

[MiniChris]

The crazy thing about this thread is I was opening up to do exactly the same thing with two prints...These were shot expressedly to play with low light, hand-held and see how well I could hit my white balance. I could use some good criticism on these...they are two different crops from the same image. I am somewhat frustrated that I cannot get down to 1/2 stops without having to get overly EV-ish....sometimes, by the time I get to that step, the moment passes.

[MiniChris]

Have you ever hear of Jon Cone's Piezography carbon based inking system? I think your work would greatly benefit from this system. The richness in detail is unsurpassed by anything else I've ever seen. It is truly incredible. www.piezography.com

[Peter Ryan]

Have you ever hear of Jon Cone's Piezography carbon based inking system? I think your work would greatly benefit from this system. The richness in detail is unsurpassed by anything else I've ever seen. It is truly incredible. www.piezography.com

Thanks for this reference Chris. I have bookmarked it for furture reference. Unfortunately I use a Canon printer; until it breaks and I can choose again.

[Peter Ryan]

The crazy thing about this thread is I was opening up to do exactly the same thing with two prints...These were shot expressedly to play with low light, hand-held and see how well I could hit my white balance. I could use some good criticism on these...they are two different crops from the same image. I am somewhat frustrated that I cannot get down to 1/2 stops without having to get overly EV-ish....sometimes, by the time I get to that step, the moment passes.

I do like the B&W and I also prefer the first crop, it gives a much stronger composition from my viewpoint. The only thing I would do (and I think you can do this successfully) is to clone out the window reflections in the ladies glasses. These are often hard to get rid of but at this angle, their relatively small size and the associated tonal range I think you can do it successfully.

[Camellia]

I took this image on a recent trip to the Little Desert NP. We had lunch by this waterhole, a rare thing in this cast wilderness.

I am going to print the image (A3) for sale at my market stall but cannot work out if I print in colour (although it is almost a monochrome shot) or B & W.

A survey of CiC members will help.

Hi Peter

I like the B&W version because the picture becomes the patterns of the trees and leaves for me. I can stare into the B&W and see lots of positive and negative shapes. It becomes really interesting. I think the texture of the ground is more pronounced in the B&W too. Hope this helps a bit.

[wilgk]

Well I am normally a B&W fan, but this one it just seems bland to me, the colour one with the muted tones of the subject really works...
For Chris' however the opposite, the B&W is my much preferred choice of those 2.

[Donald]

Well, now! Surprising as this may seem ...............

I think the B & W is too complex in terms of shape and texture. There's nothing to 'grasp' and it's not, I think, a 'relaxing' image. It's aggressive. It sort of takes you by the throat and shakes you. And I'm not sure if that's the market you're aiming at.

The colour, on the other hand, 'softens' it for me. We get much more of a sense of the track leading us through the trees to the water hole and a greater sense of calmness and serenity. I think the colour gives the image a depth that the B & W doesn't have.

So, Peter, on the basis of this totally divided opinion, it's back over to you to make the choice!

[Camellia]

Well, now! Surprising as this may seem ...............

I think the B & W is too complex in terms of shape and texture. There's nothing to 'grasp' and it's not, I think, a 'relaxing' image. It's aggressive. It sort of takes you by the throat and shakes you. And I'm not sure if that's the market you're aiming at.

The colour, on the other hand, 'softens' it for me. We get much more of a sense of the track leading us through the trees to the water hole and a greater sense of calmness and serenity. I think the colour gives the image a depth that the B & W doesn't have.

So, Peter, on the basis of this totally divided opinion, it's back over to you to make the choice!

You're right Donald - the B&W is more aggressive but that is why I like it. But then I do really like B&W. I can see what you mean about the colour version being softer - it has a more relaxed, laid back feel to it.

Are you regretting asking for opinions Peter? Have we totally confused you?

[Sam Smith]

I like the B&W better. It makes me take a longer look at it, while the color does not.

[Shadowman]

The crazy thing about this thread is I was opening up to do exactly the same thing with two prints...These were shot expressedly to play with low light, hand-held and see how well I could hit my white balance. I could use some good criticism on these...they are two different crops from the same image. I am somewhat frustrated that I cannot get down to 1/2 stops without having to get overly EV-ish....sometimes, by the time I get to that step, the moment passes.

Chris,

You should probably re-title your image so there is less confusion between the two sets.

[Shadowman]

Well I am normally a B&W fan, but this one it just seems bland to me, the colour one with the muted tones of the subject really works...
For Chris' however the opposite, the B&W is my much preferred choice of those 2.

Same here, i prefer the B&W for two reasons: the monotone look fits in with the imagery or at least suggest the imagery of tiredness, loneliness, etc. As for the color image, the shadowy, pale green color is just not complementary to the other hues in the image.

[MiniChris]

As usual, Ryan, you are spot on with your critique. Losing the highlights in the glasses helps to avoid distractive moments. I did give it a bit more work dodging in the hair highlights and a bit more burning in the shawl shadows as well.

[Clactonian]

I took this image on a recent trip to the Little Desert NP. We had lunch by this waterhole, a rare thing in this cast wilderness.
I am going to print the image (A3) for sale at my market stall but cannot work out if I print in colour (although it is almost a monochrome shot) or B & W.

I'm going with the black and white Peter.
B & W surely relies upon shape, texture and contrast ... you have that in abundance.
Colour images surely relies upon shape and colour ... you have little of the latter, to the extent that the image looks like a tinted b & w.
That's my reasoning, probably not well explained, but no doubt you get my drift.