Here are another couple that have been in my gallery for a bit, but I wanted to run them past everyone here to see which works best, color or B&W?

Thanks,

PC

http://gallery.photographyreview.com/data/photography//524/medium/IMG_5664a_BW_x1024.jpg http://gallery.photographyreview.com/data/photography//500/medium/IMG_5664a_x1024.jpg

I prefer the color. It seems to invite you in better - the black and white seems to scare you off. The colors are also very pleasing.

The geometry is strong here. Too bad the no trespassing sign isn't more prominent, but it is a very good angle overall.

G

I agree with GB's critique here. The nice shades in the water over the stones is lost in the mono.

Hi,
I prefer the color.
Very nice shoot.

I like the B&W, there is too much blue in the color.

I think I'm going to have to go with the B&W on this one for the exact reason GB1 mentioned not picking it. It's less inviting and I think better conveys a sense of "keep off" being that it is a private pier. Either version is great though. Nice shot :)

Aaron

I think I'm going to have to go with the B&W on this one for the exact reason GB1 mentioned not picking it. It's less inviting and I think better conveys a sense of "keep off" being that it is a private pier. Either version is great though. Nice shot :)

Aaron

Same here. The B&W is more foreboding.

Based on the comments (thanks for looking and commenting by the way), I can see that my confusion is somewhat justified. I was initially leaning toward the B&W for the reasons mentioned, but then my wife was saying that the color was better.

For those who prefer the B&W, would it make a difference if the colors were less saturated?

G, I see what you mean on the sign. Maybe I should have gone up there to turn it around some :p .

My other concern was that the horizon was a little too close to center. I guess that's not a problem?

Thanks again for all the great feedback!

PC

B&W, the dark sky is great.

Personally, I'm in the B&W camp. I think the colour version loses the mystery that B&W displays so well.

I think that the color looks nicer because of the nice relaxing colors, but they don't match the "not so nice" piles, this is why B&W works better for me - it matches the mood...

Although the color in the color picture is inviting it has to be the B&W for me. My first thought matched Xia_Ke's comment about it being in place with the no trespassing sign.

I'd say make everything but the Sky and Water B&W.

I prefer the BW one since it's moodier and more dramatic.

I prefer the color one because it has that appealing shade of blue/green in the water.

Both are keepers, but I think considering the lack of clouds, the BW is stronger. (the color one is missing the puffy white clouds to complete this)

Greg, Liban, pisco, Michelle, Tel, and Mr. Yuck - Thanks for looking and for your comments. It sounds like most are leaning toward the B&W although Tel brings up an interesting idea of mixing the two. I'm not generally a fan of the selective B&W (probably because I'm not too good at it), but I'll have to play around some to see if I can come up with something interesting.

I really appreciate the opportunity to get feedback from such an esteemed group. Thank you all.

PC

I really like the color version. However, I agree it is too blue. Maybe toning down the saturation just a hair could correct this.