Staircase (with gold) - The Grace Hotel, Sydney

[Jim A]

I have tried this in B&W and it comes out good, but I think the colour is better.

Staircase at The Grace by Jim A, on Flickr

[Donald]

It seems rather obvious to say it, but if the aim was to highlight the gold handrail, then clearly choosing a colour image is better. I think you can create a strong sense of colour in the tones of a B & W image without actually showing off the colour. In this image I think the tones would all blend together in a B & W image and you would be emphasising line and shape rather than tone.

[Jim A]

Well, can see what you mean, Donald, however it was rather the colour of the wall that I was referring to. Here is my B&W version. What do you think?

Staircase by Jim A, on Flickr

[Rufus]

The B&W accents the iron work (it is shame there is less of the detailed filigree than the simpler wavey elements) and the original wooden handrail and the wall recedes.

In the colour version the yellows, golds and wood colours tone nicely together and the crossing handrails become more a part of the interest, but the wall is more dominant.

So both images have something that the other one does not, and I like them both!