What’s Your Preference?

tyasa81 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-14-2011, 06:05 AM

Just had a thought that i see a lot of street style photos going in b&w and tried to convert mine... just thought ...
#1 what's your opinion on it? why is most street shooting in b&w?
#2 how is my b&w conversion? contrast good enough? any comments?
#3 is this picture better in b&w or colour?

black and white

colour

MrJones · #2 (**permalink**) 03-14-2011, 07:18 AM

1. BW is an artistic decision, I've seen plenty of street photos which were in color and plenty in B&W. I think it's up to you to decide, usually when there are strong colors in the photo, I tend to go with color.
2. the conversion is very good, I like the contrast.
3. I would go with color version

tyasa81 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-17-2011, 03:22 AM

thank you mr jones for your views

they are always much appreciated... i haven't decided if i like b&w for my own street photos since sometimes i'm quite attracted to the colours present... but on the other hand, i guess b&w are more lasting photographs since the colours comes and goes with the seasons and trends...

anyone else willing to give a shot at their opinion?

Gulf Coast Girl · #4 (**permalink**) 03-17-2011, 03:32 AM

Total noob weighing in....

This shot is nice in both b&w and color.... I'm wondering if this might be a good candidate for a mix of both. B&W with only the flowers in the subject's hands being in color?

IABoomer · #5 (**permalink**) 03-17-2011, 03:43 AM

I'm not a huge fan of selective coloring, but other people may like it for certain images. I can't say I've never done it

but it's not my go-to processing technique.

I think the B&W conversion is decent here, although the image feels a bit underexposed in both the original color and the converted B&W. I think about +3/4 to +1 stop of exposure would help the praying man on the left really pop out of the environment.

I like the composition with the man to the left balanced out with the flowers on the right. I'd probably like it more with a more shallow DoF so the couple to the right of the man/left of the flowers weren't so prominent, but sometimes you don't have the ability to make that change in the field.

If I had to pick one, I'd prefer the color. The vivid tones offset the dull dark brick background nicely.

ctcook · #6 (**permalink**) 03-17-2011, 05:38 AM

The B/W helps draw attention to the subject, but the color one has really nice vibrant colors. Tough call, but my money is on the color image.

LoveDSLR · #7 (**permalink**) 03-17-2011, 06:05 AM

Color of course! I like to be there to take some photos myself.

As the B&W image, I think you need to look at the composition again.

Quote:

...why is most street shooting in b&w?

1. Photography started from B&W.

2. Color can be a distraction.

tyasa81 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-17-2011, 08:34 AM

Lovedslr, do you mind elaborating a different composition on the b&w? why the need for a different composition especially compared to the colour... your view on b&w is interesting... so it's more like back to the roots sort of photography?

ctcook... thanx that's what i like about the b&w... i can easily darken the couple in between the man praying and the alter to reduce their very very distracting elements...

iaboomer & gulfcoastgirl... i've done selective coloring only once that i remember... and i added fake snow fall on top of it... AND print it in my first ever personal album for my honeymoon... AND the print is a full page! lol... but the more i learn, the more i try to be more "true" to sooc... just a contrast and colour tweak...

thanx for your suggestion... and i do like the result of my selective colored shot processing even now... just not really into doing another one at the moment i guess

iaboomer...i did try to increase exposure but the table of the alter is blown even by a slight increase of exposure... and is quite a distraction... i did burn(or is it dodge) the praying man about half exposure to bring him up already...

Isiliel · #9 (**permalink**) 03-17-2011, 08:49 AM

I am no expert photographer, I will only state my humble opinion:

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyasa81

#1 what's your opinion on it? why is most street shooting in b&w?

If one likes b&w photography, with street photography, you can get the best results in my opinion.
When you are not interested in the scenery, but in the incident taking place in front of you, b&w can give it a dramatic perception.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyasa81

#2 how is my b&w conversion? contrast good enough? any comments?

Your conversion is superb! I wish I had your skills.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyasa81

#3 is this picture better in b&w or colour?

I would go for the b&w. It emphasizes the man holding the flowers, which seems to be your main subject.