Cathy-Come-Home

Many thanks for your visit and positive feedback, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

My preference is the b/w version, and it is an excellent b/w work. I like your first version as it is. Beautiful tonality and contrast work very well with all details on the image.

Many Thanks for your visit and positive feedback, much appreciated!

Best Regards

Alf

Alf, I have looked at both versions of this image and followed the interesting discussion that followed on B/W versus color and exactly what to emphasize.  I find myself pulled more and more to B/W in my work so all of this was particularly relevant and I was glad to find such a special nugget of opinions here on PH--that's why I joined!  I understand that color is an important and useful compositional element, and I am not going to ever completely reject it, but I really like the idea (with B/W) that it makes the viewer think more about the elements in the image and the story contained therein without being potentially distracted by simple "prettiness".  Sometimes, to me, B/W seems to contain more "drama" as well (like this one of yours).  I am looking forward to getting some Nik software and also the day when I start doing my own printing so I can select my own papers--I think that will make a bit of difference as I climb my learning curve with those tools.  Not all images work in B/W, of course, but many do--and I think this one of yours is super in B&W...not sure if I like that version with the emphasized sky or not, I'll have to think about that.  Thanks!

I agree, the diversity of opinion if something to treasure here on PN and its one of the reasons I joined also.

There is no doubt that certain photographs seem almost made for B & W, and I agree again that it does stretch your mind and imagination so much more when viewing a B &W image. There is also an arguement that color can also enhance an image with surreal hues and levels of saturation, but the enjoyment here is much more of a primary affair, where as B & W is a kind of secondary, albeit more enjoyable experience, with quite often perceived with a greater sense of drama as you mentioned and mood / atmosphere.

Sincere thanks for your interest and for adding your views to the discussion. I look forward to seeing the results of that Nik software.

Best Regards

Alf