B & W in this case enhances the delicate organic form of the tree, which, being central to the composition, seems to be the subject here. Also, the high contrast enhances the white leading lines, as well as the hard edged geometry of the windows, the sharp angles of the buildings. I'm going to say the odds are these relationships might get lost in a sea of color? Or maybe not, if the overall color of the buildings, etc., was itself more monochrome, haha, which I guess proves the point - the B&W is working hard here!
I always ask myself “what better tells the story in this photograph, color or black-and-white?“. All my raw shots are color, and sometimes even when I’m taking the photograph I know it’s going to work and better in black-and-white.
Maybe it would. Without seeing the colours ourselves it is hard to say. Maybe if the wall right and say the houses left were of complimentary colours then possibly colour could add to rather than distract from the image.
Personally I don’t think it would. B&W gives it punch. It would work in colour if the contrast was increased and the whole photo darkened a bit but then it would look a bit convoluted.
It would, but there would be a different underlying message I think. The contrast used in the B&W gives it an extra griminess, a bit of sadness, more decay. Highlights patches of dirt and general backstreet feeling. With an image like this, colour can lift, hide or reduce the natural blemishes that the decay brings. So choices made by the photographer come out in this situation. What are you emphasising? That is where I see how it is being used. To provide and guide a story.
I'm trying to imagine this in colour...it would become more real, but less engaging. For me, I tend towards monochrome first and only choose colour when it adds something extra, and in this case I believe it would become more generic, the shapes less obvious.
And then the question of light, the light here helps with the contrast to bring out texture, pattern and shape.
Interesting stack, thank you for creating it. In answer to the question, no. With that much intentional grain, texture, and contrast, the image would be unrecognizable as a color image. It lives as a monochrome by intention, which isn’t to say that it couldn’t live as a color image with a different intention. To my eye, your intention is what drives the image as a revelation. With a different intention, an image in color would reveal a different story.
I have to ask myself the question of whether the presence of color contributes or takes away the way I am seeing and experiencing the subject or scene. I prefer an image where the color contributes to the images and not become the entire subject of the photograph, unless that was my intent.
Colour or B&W? First off, I do like the B&W pic as shown. For colour, it depends on the colour of the bin, the car and the walls on the left. If they're bright they could be interesting, but what I like about the tree against the wall is that it looks like a tree sketched against a canvas (the wall) but it bleeds off the canvas as well which gives it a sense of place and is visually interesting. It's quirky. If in colour, I think the tree would not have the prominence it has in B&W. Nicely seen.
Colour or B&W? First off, I do like the B&W pic as shown. For colour, it depends on the colour of the bin, the car and the walls on the left. If they're bright they could be interesting, but what I like about the tree against the wall is that it looks like a tree sketched against a canvas (the wall) but it bleeds off the canvas as well which gives it a sense of place and is visually interesting. It's quirky. If in colour, I think the tree would not have the prominence it has in B&W. Nicely seen.
No
Why do you think so?
Tomasz, you nailed the essence of a B&W photo. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
because the color flattens the photo which would no longer have its focus
Structure vs tone. Signal vs noise. Spotlight vs floodlight. Right brain vs left brain. Great essay, Tomasz!
I’ve always thought that B&W images provide that one more step into abstract image setting. We see in color and B&W allows us to see more
Really enjoy this kind of analysis of the elements of a photo - more like this please! 😀
B & W in this case enhances the delicate organic form of the tree, which, being central to the composition, seems to be the subject here. Also, the high contrast enhances the white leading lines, as well as the hard edged geometry of the windows, the sharp angles of the buildings. I'm going to say the odds are these relationships might get lost in a sea of color? Or maybe not, if the overall color of the buildings, etc., was itself more monochrome, haha, which I guess proves the point - the B&W is working hard here!
I always ask myself “what better tells the story in this photograph, color or black-and-white?“. All my raw shots are color, and sometimes even when I’m taking the photograph I know it’s going to work and better in black-and-white.
Me gusta el B/N en esta fotografía, me encanta
Maybe it would. Without seeing the colours ourselves it is hard to say. Maybe if the wall right and say the houses left were of complimentary colours then possibly colour could add to rather than distract from the image.
Personally I don’t think it would. B&W gives it punch. It would work in colour if the contrast was increased and the whole photo darkened a bit but then it would look a bit convoluted.
It would, but there would be a different underlying message I think. The contrast used in the B&W gives it an extra griminess, a bit of sadness, more decay. Highlights patches of dirt and general backstreet feeling. With an image like this, colour can lift, hide or reduce the natural blemishes that the decay brings. So choices made by the photographer come out in this situation. What are you emphasising? That is where I see how it is being used. To provide and guide a story.
I'm trying to imagine this in colour...it would become more real, but less engaging. For me, I tend towards monochrome first and only choose colour when it adds something extra, and in this case I believe it would become more generic, the shapes less obvious.
And then the question of light, the light here helps with the contrast to bring out texture, pattern and shape.
Interesting stack, thank you for creating it. In answer to the question, no. With that much intentional grain, texture, and contrast, the image would be unrecognizable as a color image. It lives as a monochrome by intention, which isn’t to say that it couldn’t live as a color image with a different intention. To my eye, your intention is what drives the image as a revelation. With a different intention, an image in color would reveal a different story.
Tomasz, whose photo is it? Please always identify the photographer (or maybe I just missed it?)
I have to ask myself the question of whether the presence of color contributes or takes away the way I am seeing and experiencing the subject or scene. I prefer an image where the color contributes to the images and not become the entire subject of the photograph, unless that was my intent.
Colour or B&W? First off, I do like the B&W pic as shown. For colour, it depends on the colour of the bin, the car and the walls on the left. If they're bright they could be interesting, but what I like about the tree against the wall is that it looks like a tree sketched against a canvas (the wall) but it bleeds off the canvas as well which gives it a sense of place and is visually interesting. It's quirky. If in colour, I think the tree would not have the prominence it has in B&W. Nicely seen.
Colour or B&W? First off, I do like the B&W pic as shown. For colour, it depends on the colour of the bin, the car and the walls on the left. If they're bright they could be interesting, but what I like about the tree against the wall is that it looks like a tree sketched against a canvas (the wall) but it bleeds off the canvas as well which gives it a sense of place and is visually interesting. It's quirky. If in colour, I think the tree would not have the prominence it has in B&W. Nicely seen.