Hi Mark IMO your original is better. The coloured drawings around man's eye is much more visible and they are in harmony with his blue eye. So, I don't think you should desaturate the image at all. If it was my image I would edit the colour version and I would go for a tighter crop around the head.
Yes, a lot of background problems with the colour version which look so much better in B&W.
I am with Binnur on this one. Color version with a much tighter crop losing the upper and right sides to eliminate/minimize the hooded person in the background and the person on the left.
This man is seems to be making eye contact with the viewer and seems to be posing a question via his expression which IMHO makes this a good shot...background issues aside
Ive done the edit the way youve suggested, I mus admit im a bit of a B&W Junkie (but not quite to Donald's level ) How ever this was included in a reportage style presentation which the festival still use to promote their annual events so i feel colour really doesnt work!
If your interested you can see the presentation on my site by clicking below, its 10 mins long though so dont feel you have to watch it all!
http://www.theartofimages.co.uk/inde...ker_Festival/4
Heres the edit:
thanks for your input and any other comments more than welcome.
He's got that quizzical Robert DeNiro look on his face. "You talkin to me?"
Ahh a much better title than mine John!
I'm still listening to the music of your presentation while writing this post. I liked the photos very much . I would be suprised if you liked the colour version ! I would actually crop a bit more from the top just to eliminate the distracting part above his head. I don't think it would look bad although you would lose a little part of the head. And you might like to add some contrast for a livelier look , but it is just up to you because you don't like colour.
All local bands Binnur, they will be impressed that they have gone international !