Better in Black and White?

[Tony Hawkins]

This shot were taken earlier in the summer. I did the conversion at the time but only printed the B&W version yesterday. It's very different and personally I think it’s one of those images that works better in monochrome. Do you agree?

- Tony


Lavender Fields by tonyhawkins600, on Flickr



Lavender Fields bw by tonyhawkins600, on Flickr

[Stan]

Re: Better in Black and White?

I prefer the colour on this one - it seems a shame to lose the vibrant colours to mono

stan

[Tony Hawkins]

Re: Better in Black and White?

I prefer the colour on this one - it seems a shame to lose the vibrant colours to mono

stan

I know what you mean Stan but I think the clouds come alive with mono. Thanks for the feedback.

- Tony

[Stan]

Re: Better in Black and White?

but I think the clouds come alive with mono

if you cropped off 75% of the lavender then i would agree

stan

[tesarver]

Re: Better in Black and White?

These are two different images, convey two different stories. The 1st image is a story about beauty and wonder in the world where we live. How color is well balanced and vibrant in a way that lefts the spirit any gives joy to the heart. The 2nd image is the starkness and cold reality in the world in where we live. The dark menacing clouds that over shadow our lives an world and the coldness the one feels under those darkening skies.

So very well done in telling two contrasting stories in on image. To give the BW more punch, I would tone the yellows down slightly to give them more detail, and as Stan mentioned, loose some of the lavender, but nit 75% of them IMO.

Tom

[Wayne Els]

Re: Better in Black and White?

I like the B&W but prefer the colour. I agree with Stan about cropping the heather in the B&W. But, unless you've processed the colour a lot already I think it could pop more and also lose the top of the sky.

[Dave s]

Re: Better in Black and White?

I prefer the colour version but have to agree the clouds do look better in mono ,as Stan says , crop some of the lavender possibly
to the first or second row so it puts a bit more emphasis on the sky.

[jimsphotography]

Re: Better in Black and White?

These are two different images, convey two different stories. The 1st image is a story about beauty and wonder in the world where we live. How color is well balanced and vibrant in a way that lefts the spirit any gives joy to the heart. The 2nd image is the starkness and cold reality in the world in where we live. The dark menacing clouds that over shadow our lives an world and the coldness the one feels under those darkening skies.

So very well done in telling two contrasting stories in on image. To give the BW more punch, I would tone the yellows down slightly to give them more detail, and as Stan mentioned, loose some of the lavender, but nit 75% of them IMO.

Tom

I think Tom made an excellent point in that first paragraph of his. I prefer the b/w image but again it's down to personal taste. For me, the colour one is a pretty chocolate box image,the second is a moody art type image. Anyway, well done.
James

[Tony Hawkins]

Re: Better in Black and White?

Many thanks for all your comments. I think Tom is probably right in that the conversion has produced two (very) different images. I'll see what the B&W looks like cropped a little. Thanks again.

- Tony

[Bill53]

Re: Better in Black and White?

Lovely shot Tony, personally I prefer the colour version though also like the dramatic sky detail in the mono version.

Bill.

[antoeknee]

Re: Better in Black and White?

Both have merits and doing a quick on screen crop of the B&W its far stronger as Stan has suggested.

Having said that I think you could crop about 50% of sky in the colour version.

[antoeknee]

Re: Better in Black and White?

I like the B&W but prefer the colour. I agree with Stan about cropping the heather in the B&W. But, unless you've processed the colour a lot already I think it could pop more and also lose the top of the sky.

Of course meant lavander

[AlexR!]

Re: Better in Black and White?

Tony, fascinating to see two very different images from the same source. My preference is for the colour (particularly if you shaved about a 1/3 of the sky off) as I find the mono just too contrasty (is that even a word?).

[Tony Hawkins]

Re: Better in Black and White?

Tony, fascinating to see two very different images from the same source. My preference is for the colour (particularly if you shaved about a 1/3 of the sky off) as I find the mono just too contrasty (is that even a word?).

Thanks Alex. I know what you mean by "contrasty". I printed it on a system that puts the image on a piece of glossy aluminium. The B&W image appears to really suit that process - so much so the good lady wants it on the wall. Like many pictures we take there's a lot of conjecture involved.

Thanks again

- Tony.

[Tony Hawkins]

Re: Better in Black and White?

Done a bit of cropping and changed to landscape to keep the proportions.


Lavender Fields Stormy Skies bw LANDSCAPE by tonyhawkins600, on Flickr


- Tony