Eglise Saint Pere, Saint Pere-sous-Vezelay (Yonne)

I liked the color version, but this might be better. Very interested in your reactions, thanks.

Hallo Dennis, I think I like the color version better, because the window is full of colors and the color of the stones work better with the beam of light on the right side, congratulations on both shots, happy shooting , best regards // Salvador

I agree, I liked the color better

 

In explanation: I feel that the color one is wamer and more personal, inviting. The black and white one is also very nice but gives the feeling that you are taking an archetectual photograph that just happened to have a man in it rather than it being about the man in that space.

I like this one better for the simple fact that I can see the man MUCH more clearly.Although, I admit that this is now a totally different focus and therefore has transformed an architectural image into a fine art image. For what its worth, I think it looks great!

While the color version establishes a more obvious connection between your father and the glass window, the B&W one discerns the other pieces better. For instance, when I looked at the other picture my eyes went directly to your father and the vivid colors of the windows. It is not until I look at the B&W version that I pay careful attention to the statue of the Virgin on the left and the crucifix on the right. Having said that, I prefer the color version because it conveys the personal meaning of this composition more effectively.

as a b&w man I advice you to stick to your colour version. It looks more appealing and also for the reasons I mentioned.

I've been in the darkness groping for the light.

 

 

But it just goes to show I walk by faith and not by sight.

 

 

I like the subtlety here. It's a good statement of trying to find inspiration in a sometimes dim world.

The B & W version concentrate more on the window in the far end and less distraction along the wall as oppose to the color ones. I think both are nice to me.

Thanks for sharing and enlightening my stupidity not knowing how to use the PN and lost all the comments not only from one but all the portrait photos that I posted previously. Will not commited the same mistake again.

Black and white is probably a good choice here. There is some very dark area in front of your Dad on the floor which is a bit unsettling from an emotional stand point...it's as if there is a chasm he had to pass before getting in the light. I guess that could be cosntrued as a metaphore for life passages but I doubt anybody would read it that way. If I may say an advice, I think I would crop the picture a bit so that the subject is not so central in the composition and to see him better. if you think of pixels as real estate properties, there are some very expensive beach front mansions (your dad and the stain glass, the light on the columns to the left, the dark statue to the left of your dad and his shadow below it. And then there is all the dark flooring, the names on the boards to the right and the upper half of the picture which really acts as a background for the scene that matters...all this lower area, right area and top could be cropped almost. I will try to download it and show you what i am talking about.

Do you see the ring of dark surrounded by light (the arch above and the floor) and the light in the center where your Dad is? I like the fact that there is this circular effect highlighting the subject. (if you squint your eyes, you can see it better) I think there is plenty enough of background atmosphere staging already so the edges could be softened a bit to highlight what I think matters. Plus i like diffused light. it's all very personal of course. I think I softened it too much.

Terrific photo, first of all. A well deserved 7/7 in my book. In my opinion the B&W is far better. Your dad makes the photo and he gets lost in the detail in the colour version. It also appears a little grainier for some reason, but it works to good effect to bring texture to the stone. The contrast is very well set. Lovely! Thanks for your comment on my photo.

... sorry my friends.

 

Salvador, I like the color version better, but it is for precisely the reason that Shea says ...

 

Shea, you are absolutely right. The black and white is about a man in an architectural photograph, the color shot is a particular man, my father. I have noticed the tendency in my own work for black and white to generalize ... which works wonderfully when the primary elements of the shot are pattern, rhythm, and light. Maybe it is just that some people do it so much better. I saw a picture today by Meir Samuel, a photograph of a woman in black and white, and it was so clearly that person, that it defeats my argument. So who really knows?

 

Joseph, clearly the change has been as you described. But I think that is as much a matter of expectation (of black and white) as the reality. Thanks for the comments, I always appreciate hearing from you.

 

Adan, agree with you about the personal nature of the color version, which was the first one that I did. Afterwards, I wondered about a B&W, and when I got this version, I liked it quite a bit. However, as you observe, it seems to diminish the connection with my father.

 

Ton, when you speak on this subject, I've got to listen. Thanks. It's been fun seeing you all over PN, commenting, complimenting, ruffling a few feathers here and there. You are always welcome here, of course.

 

Jeff, 2 Corinthians 5, one of the great phrases, "We walk by faith and not by sight." Thanks for your quiet but powerful words.

 

Amy, welcome to the Romanesque world from your Istanbul odyssey. I have really enjoyed your shots of Hagia Sofia (which someday I hope to shoot) and the Blue Mosque (ditto). We all make these mistakes, and fortunately the really important stuff, the photos, are fine. I will look forward to seeing where you go next!

 

Pascal, mon ami. You are such a diable, trying to get me to go against my every instinct and modify the pictures. So, I process a black and white, and like lightning you strike. You coil around me, serpent-like, hissing "wouldn't it look better if you softened a bit here, maybe diffused a bit there." (Now you must say "softened" and "diffused" aloud, with a slight sibilance to get the full effect). And of course, it works because you use truth as the basis for your temptation. All I can do is twist away, trying to avoid the temptations of the apple that you hold in front of me.

 

Whew ... that was a rush. Sorry, Pascal, I got carried away. As far as that "chasm" you referred to, I love the idea that it is a metaphor for the life passage. Thanks, and thanks for enduring my dramatic interlude :)

 

Lucas, welcome and thank you for your kind words and rating. You are right about the noise (chroma noise) in the color version, but I actually liked it and decided to leave it in. This shot is definitely cleaner. I'm in the position of not having to choose either, but it has been great to see the thoughts of you folks on them both.

You taught me something...the thing about going against your instinct...There is much more to Dennis than what meets the mind at first. And that is probably an arrogant statement for me to say that...the privileges of friendship, you gotta watch those! snaky sneaky snaky!

... and you are my friend. That being the case, snake-away :)

It suits almost all of your pictures Dennis!

 

PDE

... that is the kind of poetic observation that only an artist could make.

Either version works well, basically it's due to your father. Without him this photo would lack that human aspect. Bravo Messieurs Aubrey.