which do you prefer and why?

[Andy]

i had another shot of this lovely london street violinist, and i processed her both in color (really only a slight curves adjustment) and in bw (convert to bw and then a 16% luminosity toning layer applied). which do you prefer, and why? i like them both, and have put the bw in my street photography gallery and the color in my hazy hot and humid gallery. :lol


http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/8187268-L.jpg

http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/8187117-L.jpg

[DavidTO]

Definitely this one. The golden light on the walls is beautiful. B/W doesn't add anything for me, and the loss of the golden light is a negative, IMO.

http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/8187268-S.jpg

[gubbs]

I'm always doing this (current challenge entry being a prime example, I think I'm on my third try!).
Normally I end up opting for B&W or slightly toned, but on this one I prefer the colour. I like the warmess of the light and the gentleness of the colours, helps you to hear the violin

[lynnma]

Definitely the color for me Andy.. soft and warm.. the black and white leaves me feeling....what... somethings missing.

:D

[cmr164]

Definitely the color for me Andy.. soft and warm.. the black and white leaves me feeling....what... somethings missing.

:D Add my vote... The B/W doesn't do anything for me when compared to the color. On the otherhand increasing the contrast with curves and making the B/W more gritty.... Just a thought

[Baldy]

Beautiful shot, as always. I love the color for all the reasons everyone else said, but I did think cmr's adjustments to the b&w made it pop.

[Andy]

i'm so into b&w - and what i'll do is probably a step in between what i've presented here and a full tri-x asa 1600 treatment - and end up with something a bit more poppy, contrasty, like chas' edit.

thanks guys.

[Andy]

i appreciate your feedback, both versions will be presented, just in different galleries. i do this sometimes, but not always.

thanks again

[jantzen]

Andy, I really want to see your Tri-x version of this violinist.

I am going to go through some of my old shots that I like and see what they look like after your tri-x treatment.

Jantzen

[ginger_55]

Sure wish we had street musicians hanging around here. I really "dig" them, and I don't even like the word.

We probably have an ordinance saying, "no street musicians".

ginger

I like the color best, but the blk and white is certainly worthy of treatment. Some places, sometimes that would be the one of choice.

Andy, have you ever thought of doing a book?

[tmshots]

I'd go for the color, there is more life and the girl seems to pull out toward you moreso than the b/w. You've got alot of the better elements in the color shot with the grit and grime of the background. And then there is this person playing out something you can almost feel is soft and melodious (that right? dictionary too far away) Its more alive and places you there almost able to hear something playing in the back. Yes, I'd have to vote for the color.

[Andy]

Andy, have you ever thought of doing a book?

shh! don't tell anyone, but it's in the works :D

keep it between you and me, okay dear?

[jantzen]

Andy, Sign me up for 2 copies.

1 to flip through daily until it wears all the way out and is just a tattered, dog-eared fragment and 1 to treasure, hoard and covet, my precious! LOTR refrence, nothing else funny going on in that play on words, although I do find you precious, Andy!!!

Jantzen

shh! don't tell anyone, but it's in the works :D

keep it between you and me, okay dear?

[Andy]

Andy, Sign me up for 2 copies.

1 to flip through daily until it wears all the way out and is just a tattered, dog-eared fragment and 1 to treasure, hoard and covet, my precious! LOTR refrence, nothing else funny going on in that play on words, although I do find you precious, Andy!!!

Jantzen

hang in there :D thanks for the support!

[ian408]

Color adds warmth and a depth that seem to be missing in the B&W.
The subtleness of the colors also make the violinist stand out as if the photo
were stylized.

Ian

[wxwax]

Hmmm. I guess I think the color does a better job of bringing out the contrast between the grimy surroundings and the sophisticated violinist. It's a really nice B&W exposure. But I find a richer story in the color version.