These two photographs were taken within a couple dozen seconds of each other. Just the amount of time it took to switch the "creative style" from monochrome to standard on a Sony a6300. I always liked this little cake shop. It was called "Delish." They recently closed but I guess that happens to a lot of start up businesses; it's just that they made really nice stuff....
Color ;)
ReplyDeleteI like both, but prefer the framing of the monochrome pic ... I like the off-center door and seeing more brick in the foreground.
ReplyDeleteOn my nasty monitor at work, I prefer the wonderful, somewhat muted colors of the first image. For B&W, I prefer a more aggressive tonal approach, but then again, I am not an artist. :)
ReplyDeleteI preferred the B&W because it brings out the complexity and richness of the scene in much the way some of Lee Friedlander's cityscapes do. Or for that matter Walker Evans' photos of little stores, barber shops, etc. A small scene but a long look.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this, Kirk!
I prefer the colour version. The black and white one seems a little washed out to me.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea about which one you like more. But, I prefer the monochrome.
ReplyDeleteComposition on the B+W one is stronger.
ReplyDeleteI almost always prefer color with the exception of portraits. Otherwise, I feel like I'm missing something when the photograph is B&W as color seems to complete the scene for me.
ReplyDeleteI found the green and, especially, the yellow colors too distracting, and the blue carpet doesn't help either. I think the b/w has a cleaner, simpler feel to it and I like it better. Ken
ReplyDeleteBlack and white. For me, always black and white unless color is the point of the picture. I am not a big fan of what Eggleston does with color. I like Jay Maisel's early color work. OTOH, I sure shot a lot of Kodachrome in the day and liked its weird color.
ReplyDeleteColor version already tilting towards monochrome. B&W version removes the distracting color. Better result.
ReplyDeleteI'm far from being an artist nor an expert in such things, but I prefer the monochrome version. It appears sharper to my eyes. I find the colors a little too distracting for this image. It is a nice comparison though. Recently I've been doing a similar exercise using an old Pentax ME Super with black and white film and comparing those images with some digital images I've converted to black and white. i'm still trying to decide which I prefer.
ReplyDeleteSorry Kirk, I don't like either one, they are both too cluttered for my taste. There is a saying: There is elegance in simplicity. There is nothing elegant here. I'm sure though that the food is good.
ReplyDeleteB&W.
ReplyDeleteblack & white for me, But I have a bais for bw; I do shoot color too. Ialso like the bw composition as others have remarked.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it depends on the purpose of the photograph. Do I really want to know how the scene appeared? If so, the color version contains more information.
ReplyDeleteThe color version also draws me into the store and, given the background provided, makes me sad to think of the disappointment of the one who had hopes and dreams for this failed business and the customers who will miss them. The black and white seems more stark and matter of fact.
On the other hand, if you were looking for an interesting photo to hang on your wall, the black and white, might be the better choice as suggested by many of the above comments.
Jeff
If I think I know you, I would say you like the framing of the first shot. As it fits the square frame better, which I think you like and has the store name in the topright to draw the viewer in. You, whom normally likes BW, may also have some fondness for the sharp yellow. So I would say you like the first shot.
ReplyDeleteI like the framing of the second, but I have never been there.
It appears I'm in the minority, but I vote color.
ReplyDeleteMore life to it, and more information.
I like both of the images but I can't make up my mind; not that there is any reason to make up my mind. I can enjoy both. I will say that I am very impressed with the camera and lens combo I used to make this photo and probably won't be taking the old, manual exposure Olympus Pen-F 38mm f1.8 off my Sony a6300 any time soon.....
ReplyDeleteAren't windows like the greatest! Barriers and receptive; reflective and transparent; solid and ephemeral. I never get tired of looking at them, photographing them and just knowing they are out there. Terrific. I think I'd go with the B&W. No real reason that I can nail down. Old school taste. But those are some very wonderful photos, either way.
ReplyDeleteBoth are fine, but the colour image works better, the overall balance is better and colour adds to the subject context.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy them both but for different reasons. The color photo is soft and pleasing with the tree reflecting the icicle light and the yellow bulbs from the two lamps. The colors let you take in the photo in segments without spoiling the whole. The brick sidewalk in the monochrome tends to pull you into the picture and be absorbed by the view. Great job on both counts.
ReplyDeleteMike
The color image is more three dimensional.
ReplyDeleteMy eye goes from the yellow DELISH above left to the small yellow DELISH sign, which connects to the yellow lamps and brown interior of the cafe that wraps around to the brown behind Kirk. The the blue carpet visually connects to the blue-tinted Julia Child quote and the bluish pant leg of Kirk.
Little or none of these visual connections occur in the BW image. It seems flatter.
B&W - I like the tighter composition and it emphasises lines, patterns and textures
ReplyDeleteI think they both work on different levels. My preference would lean toward the B&W though. I'm glad the a6300 works for you, especially with the Pen lens. I just bought and returned an a6000 with Sigma and Zeiss lenses. The output just didn't work for me. Maybe I was expecting more or something different perhaps. Both were sharp for sure. I like the output from your A7RII better but again, just me. Thanks for your posts and thoughts.
ReplyDelete