Underpass

[John 2]

I usually make up my mind fairly quickly over whether an image should be in colour or whether it is a suitable candidate for mono. However, the choice isn't always obvious as Donald demonstrated in commenting on my last post. I can't make up my mind on this one. I like the mono but I suspect that I am being seduced by the strong lead provided by the red hand rails and door in the colour version. So comments very welcome.

[royent]

John Colour for me
Roy

[Donald]

I always go out to shoot Mono, or colour. That decision is made before I set out and so I am looking for images that will suit whichever I choose. The idea of deciding once I look at it on the computer just doesn't happen. That being said, I know many people do. I'd argue that there are many B & W images missed because people just make it B & W if the colour doesn't work for them. I think that's the wrong way to approach making B & W images.

That being said, the question re the above images is - What was the purpose/vision that led to the shutter being fired in the first place? Was it to show the red handrail? Was it to show the colours of the passageway? Was it a study to show depth and shape?

Once you answer these questions, and others, then you can decide if the colour of B & W version is the right one.

This, I think, is a very good B & W conversion.

[Shadowman]

The color version is more lively, the mono version looks a bit clinical or like a technical drawing.

[billtils]

Colour for me John. The lines of the red handrails take you right into the picture and the red clothing and doors at the top of the walkway.

When scrolling down, I was attracted by how it looked when the top 25% or so was not in the view. What do you feel about a crop that cuts off the sign at the top?

[lunarbo]

Colour for me too- those rails are really strong and lead into the picture splendidly

I'd be tempted to remove the far person in the yellow top which would give you more red door.
I might also explore de-saturating that green poster on the left. This would then give you an interesting mostly-reds "mono" image which would be different from the usual black and white mono.

See- we're all different in what we see and what we like--- that's what makes it fun!

[FootLoose]

I prefer the black and white version of this image because of the lighting and tonal adjustments you have applied to it. In the colour version the woman in red almost blends in with the red door save for the man in yellow, and you have dealt better with that problem in the b&w. That said, it is a good image in both renditions, John.

[Jim A]

I like both, John, but my choice would go with B&W. I find the green poster a bit distracting, like Barbara. If you were to enter the colour version in a competition where red is meant to grab the eye, then this would be perfect. In that situation I would desaturate the green a bit (also clone out the person in yellow).

[John 2]

Thanks all for the feedback.

Donald, I'm not much different to you. I'm more of an opportunist when it comes to subject matter and so I don't go out dedicated to either a colour or a mono shoot. However, when I see an opportunity, I generally know what I want to do with it in PP and that includes whether it is to be mono or colour. That's not to say that occasionally that decision isn't made on the monitor for instance when I have been concentrating on the colour subject so much that I miss a colour clash in the BG. If the image lends itself to mono, I might change my original view.

The yellow clad figure in the BG was in and out several times before I gave up and left it in. Cloning it out would not have been easy because there is little LH vertical edge to the door behind but I could have copied and flipped the RH door. In the end I left things as they were. I must admit , I hadn't thought that the yellow figure served to separate the red figure from the red door but it is a good point. Similarly, I hadn't noticed the green sign. Just goes to show.

[Rufus]

As Donald says, it depends on your intent. That said, I prefer the B&W as I see the image as being about the lines and contrast and the people and door are important elements but incidental rather than the subject matter. The dark brown floor is too dominant for my liking in the colour version.

[wilgk]

Red for me!

[pnodrog]

Colour for me too- those rails are really strong and lead into the picture splendidly

I'd be tempted to remove the far person in the yellow top which would give you more red door.
I might also explore de-saturating that green poster on the left. This would then give you an interesting mostly-reds "mono" image which would be different from the usual black and white mono.

See- we're all different in what we see and what we like--- that's what makes it fun!

I agree with Bo but in addition I would like the dark brownish carpet/flooring to be desaturated so it is not competing with the red. A grey or even cool tone in it would work better.

[John 2]

Thanks for the comments David, Kay and Paul. I must admit that the colour of the floor has never struck me before. I did darken it because I just saw it as part of the lead. However I suspect making it more neutral would enhance the effect of the rails. I will try it.

[Manfred M]

As someone who tends to default towards colour images, with this shot I would tend to be in the "prefer B&W" camp. While the colour version is not particularly busy, the subtle simplification of what is mostly geometric shapes works very well for me.

My issue with this image is the walkway. It is a dark and uninteresting part of the image that takes up too much of the image. I suspect a heavy crop that removes a significant amount of it would give and even stronger image.