Autumn Tradition

What a cutie.  Hard to make a bad shot with a subject like this but your work makes it perfect.

Thanks for the validation.  This is an oldie but one of my favourite family shots.   Found it at the bottom of my shoebox.  It was hanging on my wall for years in colour but I thought it showed some merit in B&W.  Best, LM.

I understand why you hung it. Merit indeed.

B&W for people shots has always been a favourite of mine.  Your offerings have simply reenforced that bias.  Best, LM.

Excellent shot , I bet it looked good in colour as well . Bill

Thanks for taking the time.  You decide which you prefer.  I've been looking at the colour version so long the B&W has a fresh appearance to me.  I've added some vignetting to better draw the eye to his face.  Best, LM.

B & W gets my vote this time. Whilst both versions are great portraits in thier own right, the reason i think the B & W works better is that my eyes focus more easilly on the expression of the child rather than being drawn to the bright colour of the coat. I can see why it is a favourite too, the fun atmosphere is quite evident.  Great B & W conversion Len.

Best Regards

Alf

This is one example of where colour can be a bit of a distraction.  Tough to beat the classic B&W for people photos. The fact that this is my son also helps to explain the reason it has been a family favourite for many years.  Thanks for your comment & views.  Best, LM.

The B&W is a great choice, Len. Colour is a real distraction while the B&W image really sings.

Those were my thoughts too.  Thanks for your input.  Best, LM.

What a winning smile you have captured here. He lights up the whole photo. I agree with the gang about the choice of black and white and that, in this case, color is a bit of a distraction from the simple pleasures of the photograph.

Beautiful shot of such a cute child...You can hardly ever go wrong with such a subject :) I liked the bw version & then I saw the coloured one ! While the b&w version is more artistic & pleasant to watch, I also like the original version as the colours really pop there !

Best regards.

Sagnik

Great to hear from you again!  The B&W option of this oldie never hit me until I decided to scan the neg so I'd have a digital copy.  Many photographers on PN like Meir Samel still post mainly in B&W and thereby provided the inspiration for me to submit more of my work in B&W.  I liked the way this one came out.  Gotta love PhotoShop.  This is a poster child for explaining that  "color is sometimes a distraction" .  Best, LM.

Something for everyone here! No right or wrong, just choices.   The colours do indeed 'pop', but, for me, to a fault I fear.  I could tone them down a tad and if I ever reprint this one I may do just that.  Yah, my wife & I made sweet looking children. :-)   Best, LM.

I'm going to vote with the majority and go with the b/w version.  I think it keeps more attention on that wonderful smile... Mike

Your opinion is most appreciated.  The fact that I agree with it is a bonus.  Thanks for taking the time.  Best, LM.

Another vote for the B/W choice. This is a very good portraite and his smile is "contagious "( in the good sense ), I look at him and smile... Very nice B/W execution, and a sweet child surrounded with leaves...;-))

How could I argue with that?  I think that this would resonate with the 'Grandma' in you.  Actually, this is the father of my first two grandsons.  He was cute also.  :-)  B&W is my medium of choice for people photos.  I would go straight to B&W if it wasn't so easy today to have both options readily available.  May as well shoot colour film to take advantage of that fact.  Warm thanks for your always welcome visits.  Best, LM.

I see that your shoe box will never ever be empty....;-))great!

Long live the shoebox!  :-)  Best, LM.

There's no doubt about it - the monochrome... whilst we enjoy his great sunny smile for you, the silver toning brings life to the leaves too; and the electric blue jacket becomes a just-there thing, losing its primacy - which is as it should be.

Another nod for the B&W version.  I agree, the bright blue jacket moves to it's proper place on the tone scale.  Thanks for the re-enforcement. Best, LM.

Len, I agree with others that this a lovely take -- I love the spontaneity and happy vibe of the moment captured.. Those eyes are beaming indeed. Now, this may come as a total surprise to you from somebody who (very) often prefers monochromes, but I actually really like the color version..... It may be due to the (very) attractive color combination of the brown with blue hues  in your photo.. (look at those beautiful blue eyes :-) There is a wonderful sense of depth in the various brown leaves against the dark brown gate beyond, & which doesn't seem to be coming through as much in the B&W version for some reason... Don't get me wrong; I very much like the B&W too (of course..!),  but the color is kind of striking in a way... However, the gate could be made a tad darker perhaps, which may enhance a similar feeling of depth... In any event, as you often say to me: This is (has been for a long time , I guess) a real keeper..! best, Marjolein

Good to get your take on this recently converted oldie.  A child playing in the leaves seems to have a universal appeal, in B&W or colour.  Bonus!  Perhaps I've simply looked at it in colour for so long that when I view the newer version it's almost like looking at it for the first time.  New photo! There are a few things I can do here and one is to apply vignetting in the proper amount to the B&W version (see second colour file).  Inspiration taken from this site:  http://www.portraittipsandtechniques.com/2010/07/perspective/  Sorry I can't provide a shortcut link.  It's one of the things that bug me about this forum.  Best, LM.

For what it's worth, I prefer the b & w version.