Your opinion - What is the appeal of partially-desaturated images?

<p>Some silouettes look like they have been desaturated, but actually they are 2 color pictures. Sometimes I might desaturate an image to make it look more realistic, or to tone-down the mood a little, but generally I try to avoid cliche. </p>

<p>I find that desaturation is often used with, or results in, a softened image and that further adds to the mood of the shot. <br>

So many facets to this wonderful medium - like in music where a note here instead of there, and softer vs harder, or delayed vs rushed can evoke a different response. Very cool - no wonder I so much enjoy this medium.<br>

I want to include an image where I tried this look - though the time of day and the wind contributed to the look as well. I'm a little scared of your opinions, but here it is (from my flickr page):</p>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4211594497_b02b409932_z.jpg" alt="photo" width="480" height="640" />

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-Marilyn M.</p>

<p>I am always reticent to express an opinion in such august company, but here's my 2¢.</p>

<p>I think that the desaturation thing works best in the same situation where B&W has its most effective use: when certain elements of style are more pronounced. Specifically, I think that colour does not always add to photos that have strong form, texture or line; when those elements are strong, they can create a strong impression by themselves.</p>

<p>Sometimes, too, pattern or even shape can be nicely captured without colour — but certainly silhouettes can be overdone.</p>

<p>And I think that applies to partial saturation as well as full-on B&W.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I almost always begin to dislike a style trend when it becomes too predictable. E.g. right now there is a very high chance that any period film or television series that takes place earlier than the 20th century, or during a particularly "bleak" time in recent or even future times, will be presented in what I call "The BBC Green and Magenta Palette".</p>

<p>I think I remember when the fad started...The first time I can recall seeing it was in X-files where the renowned cameraman Ward Russel created the eerie parano feeling reducing reds, filming under fluorescent light and also under the grey skies on Canada. Since then, it has become a cliché.<br /><br />Now I can see there is a generation gap there. My son makes his photos cold, contrasty and desaturated whereas I, the older I get, the mushier and more sugary my pictures have become.<br />Could be I am growing a cataract...<br /><br />I wish some visualogy historian would study this thing. I find it fascinating. Take a sample of histograms from the allweneedislove-period and those of today and compare them statistically. Interesting? (yawn)</p>

<p>Ward Russell's still photography you can eye here: http://wardrussellphoto.photoshelter.com/index#!/index</p>