Quick, B&W or Colour?

shootme · 11-28-2009, 05:53 AM

Which do you prefer #1 or #2, Thanks

#1
Name: Cork.jpg
Views: 91
Size: 133.6 KB

#2

Name: Cork-c.jpg
Views: 91
Size: 162.1 KB

**Frog** · 11-28-2009, 05:58 AM

I prefer the b/w

jetrim · 11-28-2009, 06:19 AM

B & W - though they both look good!

engineer · 11-28-2009, 06:22 AM

the colour one works better here for me.

w.slayman · 11-28-2009, 06:28 AM

Both are good but the B&W has more punch.

**Grandpaw** · 11-28-2009, 06:36 AM

I have to go with the color one myself. In the color one there is more detail in the colored rings and the reflection in them. The background is about the same in both photos but I think the color brings out the subject more to me, Jeff

draymorton · 11-28-2009, 06:38 AM

I'm afraid I'm not going to be of much help here. I just can't decide.

EDIT: Upon second look, I think I'm leaning toward the color one for some of the reasons that Grandpaw mentioned. It has more detail and impact. I might play with the color balance a little to see what variations I could come up with.

BlueRob · 11-28-2009, 07:33 AM

Tough call, at first glance I preferred the B&W but now I dont know, both have different flavors I guess, depends what mood you want to express.
...Oh! Here it comes BlueRob with his strange ideas....What a about a color subject with a monotone (B&W) background?

shootme · 11-28-2009, 02:14 PM

Well thanks, we are basically split here so I don't know which to end up posting as I don't want to post both to my gallery. Frog, Jetrim, Engineer, W. Slayman, Grandpaw, Draymorton and BlueRob, thanks to you all for taking a moment to post your thoughts, I'm grateful as always. Blue Rob, I would have gone for the colour for just the cork and glass and left the background B&W, but I've heard recently that that's not the thing to do these days, right Draymorton...I do like the tinge of green in the glass, shoot just don't know what to do, I just liked the simplicity of the subject and background. I'll play around with the colour and tones of both and then go with one I feel good about. Stay tuned. Cheers, Shootme

Shebang · 11-28-2009, 09:11 PM

When I looked at the title of your thread, I thought, ah, this will be easy. Color. Then I looked. This is a tough call. They both appeal to me. But if I were forced to pick, then I would have to pick 2.

shootme · 11-28-2009, 11:36 PM

I agree Paula, at first I only had it in colour and thought nice simple and candid shot. Then I looked at it in B&W and thought no this is really nice in B&W too. Then the dilemma and you'd wonder why as it's not an intricate shot...or is it? Thanks

Ptax · 11-30-2009, 06:26 PM

For me, the b & w. My eye settles in on the subject better in the b & w. Disclaimer- I tend to prefer b & w over color 90% of the time.

AgingEyes · 11-30-2009, 07:26 PM

Color.

To me, the b&w as presented looks a bit flat. That's why I pick "color" between the two posted. The colors in the color shot look good.

shootme · 11-30-2009, 10:25 PM

Thanks Ptax, I too like B&W, but this time I went with Colour as I wasn't able to give more punch to the B&W which I would have liked. AgingEyes I think you right on this one. So I'd guess you'd have picked the B&W if it had more punch? Cheers and thanks. S

AgingEyes · 12-01-2009, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shootme

So I'd guess you'd have picked the B&W if it had more punch?

Maybe not. I think the color one has good, beautiful colors. Would prefer a bit more sharpening though.

Could I try converting it to b&w?

shootme · 12-01-2009, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgingEyes

Maybe not. I think the color one has good, beautiful colors. Would prefer a bit more sharpening though.

Could I try converting it to b&w?

No problem, would you like me to send you the original raw file. I can email it to you with yousendit as the file is large.

Thanks, Peter

AgingEyes · 12-01-2009, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shootme

would you like me to send you the original raw file.

Thank you for your permission and the suggestion, Peter ! I was fine working with the color jpeg you'd posted. Basically just wanted to share another possibility of what the b&w of that image could look like:

Name: Cork-c.jpg
Views: 55
Size: 282.3 KB

Name: Cork-c.jpg
Views: 55
Size: 282.3 KB

I find this one looks better on black background

I used channel mixer for this one, enhanced contrast, then ran it through Silver Efex to use some of the features there (structure and film type). Added vignetting and applied sharpening. I didn't do any clean-up.

If you want to add contrast to yours, just use "Levels" or "Curves".

shootme · 12-01-2009, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgingEyes

Thank you for your permission and the suggestion, Peter ! I was fine working with the color jpeg you'd posted. Basically just wanted to share another possibility of what the b&w of that image could look like:...

Added vignetting and applied sharpening. I didn't do any clean-up.

If you want to add contrast to yours, just use "Levels" or "Curves".

Wow it has so much more punch in it, Yes I like it too. Thanks for doing that. I will try and simulate what you have done. Feel free to use the two examples a teaching prompt. S

**Grandpaw** · 12-01-2009, 05:32 AM

After AgingEyes has worked on this I think I just may have changed my mind and prefer this version of the B&W over the color. It now has the punch that was needed, Jeff

shootme · 12-01-2009, 07:04 AM

You are right about that Jeff. I am still struggling to reproduce something similar so I can post it as well. Thanks again AgingEyes.

Shebang · 12-01-2009, 07:15 AM

Aw, now you went and made it REALLY difficult to choose. Very, very nice B&W edit! Good job, AgingEyes!

w.slayman · 12-01-2009, 07:23 AM

Now you have gone and doubled the punch, I liked the original B&W but love this one, great photo.

shootme · 12-01-2009, 07:29 AM

And Bill, this of course is no reflection on my PP abilities, right :-)

**Frog** · 12-01-2009, 04:08 PM

The increased vignetting and the more pronounced blacks make AgingEyes edit work for me.
I think his eyesight is much better than his handle would suggest.

Ridgetop · 12-01-2009, 04:33 PM

Agingeyes made me definitely decide to say BW. The details being brought out in the glass that the previous BW didn't have really grab my attention.

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