Gallows Bay - Nevis

Larger View available. 

Most of your photos are in color.  A quick look at your portfolio confirms that.  Last year in a comment on one of your BW shots, you said, "I step into the black and white world once in a while but every time I place the color version next to it, most people run for the color."

So my question to you now is, why is this one in BW? The sky and foreground sea foam translate very nicely in BW with their outstanding contrast.  There is a lot to see here with the nice wide lens you used.  (I remember your advice about pointing the camera at the horizon, and I think it applies here too.)

But I think it might go beyond that, from the technical level to the artistic level (where you often excel.)  I think the BW foray here is meant to convey a mood.  The sky, this sky is a little more powerful than it would be in color.  The off-center tilting ship on the left, the relentless sea foam.  The subject standing on this shore behind the camera at this moment in time is possessed of a feeling that you have chosen to convey in BW.

Well done in b/w with the dramatic sky and the ship so ominously close to the shore.  Excellent... Mike

The heaviness of the clouds is awesome, as is your use of the wide angle, which gives equal billing to the shells and the ship.

I  did not realize that people read the stuff I write. This is an image that I took many years ago and recently discovered it.  I did not post  it because the conditions were very overcast and the color was almost monochromatic. 

 

In its original form, it did not appeal to me but I was on an 'exotic Caribbean island and not likely to be in this location again so I felt the need to capture something.  So this is a case where people (IMHopinion) would prefer something other than a color version. 

 

I have a friend whose name is also Jim and he prefers B&W. He tells me that it better conveys mood and form for him.

 

Thanks for writing and hope that my humble attempt to tell you why I went with B&W answers your question. 

Mike - thanks. It is actually a shipwreck which, I have been told,  has been removed.

 

Jeffs - Hope all is well. Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you liked.

Against my better judgement (*_*) - here is the color version.

 

Personally I prefer the color version. Disregarding the tropical location (this isn't National Geographic after all) I like the subdued color of the original. I feel that the clouds are even more dramatic with their bruised purple cast and that patch of sand with its collection of driftwood give us just the needed touch of color on this stormy day.

Jack - even I am beginning to like the color (*_*) version.

Great scene,and I also think that the color version is more dramatic(wish I could see large); I am color biased to start with.Good move to dig this one out and share.Excellent image!

Meilleures salutations-Laurent

Tony - Another vote for the color image, although I like both.  I think the color gives the scene a more emotive mood, with it's subtle blues and grays.

 

Best, David

I am betting that the color version will win over the BW version.

Fine image, Tony. I also go with the colour version. Maybe precisely because there is relatively little colour. Best regards.

Hi Tony,

You have cropped the B&W image on the right side.  Without the stone the image feels left-heavy.  I like the stone on the right in the color version.  Also, maybe part of the problem is that there is just too much going on in the foreground as the sea foam competes with the clouds.  All the best, Jeff   

Laurent - Thanks - one more for color. You probably know why I don't place images here that are large.

David - thanks

Jon - Thanks for the feedback. It is appreciated.

Jeff - I appreciate your feedback (as I do the others). I also thought that the foreground was 'busy' but there was so little going on in terms of the sand or any rocks to hold one's interest. I agree with keeping the right-side foreground stone without any cropping.

I know you like the portrait mode so I will post one like that and with less wave action in the foreground. All the very best,

I really like both pictures, but I prefer black and white because it is more dramatic and intense. I have been a couple of months ago in St. Kitts and Nevis! Really an exotic place!

Kind Regards,

Rosario.

Good to hear from you. I have been to St.Kitts on a few occasions and I really enjoy photography in the South East peninsular . It is being `developed`and while that will bring in `dollars`it will spoil the natural look.  That is the choice most governments  with limited resources have.

Thanks on weighing in on the BW version. I was right a long time ago and Jim Steane reminded me, that given a choice between BW and color, most people will go for color.

I think I am learning that when you want to emphasize form or increase the drama, BW may be a better choice. Not quite sure why, but most street shots are in BW and most people seem to prefer that.

 

All the very best,

 

 

Your Ground Zero and Brooklyn Bridge pictures certainly look good in BW.  And, after causing all this discussion about this one, may I now weigh in and say that I like the original photo in BW the best!  As I said before, I like the sky and sea-foam, the listing ship.  Also, I think the crop is right the way it is.

 

In the end, Tony, it comes down to the question of what YOU think and what YOU  like.  All the discussion and suggestions are great.  For me, and I think for you to some degree, that is one of the primary reasons to post pictures here-  to get feedback, so that you can see your pictures through the eyes and minds of other photographers.

 

So often I see pictures and I think, "there is no 'there' there."  The picture is OK, but there is nothing special about it.

 

There must be something there in this picture to have generated so much discussion.   Take a look at it again before you move on, and ask yourself what did the other photographers see there.  Then, what do YOU see there?

 

Enjoy!

 

Jim - Thanks for starting quite a discussion on this image. I usually like my images to stand on their own without narrative. As I already stated, lack of color was one factor but in addition, I was conscious of Nevis history.

 

Nevis had the only court in the West Indies to try and hang pirates. Prisoners were taken from the courthouse across the swamp to where the gallows were set up, hence the name, Gallows Bay.

The ship wreck sort makes that connection for me.

 

Getting this vision of pirates being marched to their fate plus the limited color, kind of sent me to the BW version.

 

If I want to remember a pleasant tropical beach scene, I would go with the original color version but the BW, for me, adds that drama.

 

If truth be told, my Ground zero 9-11 means more to me and I just finished watching the Passionate Eye TV documentary recall of those terrible moments. That was a time when I was transfixed and addicted to the 24 hour coverage. The images of people jumping to their death still haunts me. And I saw it again tonight!

 

All the very best,

 

Tony, can't believe I missed this one. It came up when I searched for photos with most comments.  First let me say the same things everyone else has already said. Great B/W, wonderful depth etc....   I do prefer it over the color.  Also it has generated a wonderful discussion and I myself have enjoyed it and learned from it. Keep up the wonderful work!!  AJ

Thanks AJ.  I missed your comment. My apologies!