If you were here for critters yesterday you will have seen the colour version of this shot. Normally any one of the three above, bee, butterfly or plant you would see in glorious colour. When all three appear in one shot( serendipity again, the photographer's best friend) it would seem foolish not to take advantage and produce the natural colour shot. Note I said natural colour, not manipulated colour. Nature shots, should not have tweaked colour, otherwise they they become unatural images. Anyway back to the point.It's monochrome yes, but is it odd. For the reasons above it is odd to see an image like this in greyscale. The mind's eye immeadiately would have you snap this image in colour. Some of you will be mentally adding the tones and hues as you view and will prefer the colourful one below this post. For those who are more interested in other aspects of photography you will not be veiwing the subjects as nature, but as shapes, tones, light and contrast. Is the composition of the subject more noticeable in colour or monochrome for instance? Do you see more for the lack of colour or does this image confuse you and you need the colour in the right places to view the image?
There is no right or wrong answer. Some of us prefer colour some of us prefer none. There are myths that an image shot in black and white is an instant classic, timeless professional shot. Not so. A bad shot is a bad shot, whatever format it is shot in. This image was composed and shot in colour and black and white for two very different projects I'm working on. I know which one I prefer, and I know why. That though is my personal opinion, and professional opinion. My veiws I will keep to myself.
The daily photo project and the nemes are fun blogs and posts that just show a snapshot of our lives/ towns/ work/ family/ etc. I will say this again, but please remember not everyone out there is professional, has the right equipment or is even remotely interested in a discussion on photography. I posted this image today as a request from someone who follows the blog staunchly and has had a few problems with the black and white versus colour issue. I may be a photographer, but essentially this is a daily blog so this Brad this is for you. Now let's get back to snapshots and quirkiness of Ramsey.
Want to join the weird world of Odd Shots Monday? Then see KATNEY
Want to join the beautiful and creative world of Mononchorome Monday? Then see Aileni at LOOSE ENDS
55 comments:
I wouldn't have even known they were the same photograph if I hadn't looked back and forth between the color and the black and white one. I react to them both differently but I like them both.
When I look at the world around me, I often add and subtract to what I see which can be a limitation as a photographer. I know it's a limitation when I download photographs and realize that what I thought I was shooting wasn't there at all or that something was there that I didn't want to be. Sometimes I get happy surprises.
When I look at other people's photographs, I tend to react at an emotional or intuitive way so it's hard to analyze why I'm drawn to something. It's interesting to think about. I think, for some reason, as much as I like the color of this shot, I'm drawn more to the black and white.
Color. Mamma nature isn't grey. This blog is fun.
i prefer the coloured version of this picture. loved your commentary.
Either, or, variety is good, especially when it comes with your excellent commentary.
LB,
A dedication! Thanks. I get what you say. The black and white but that's because you have taught me to "see" a photo. Dan like the colour. Thanks LB.
This is awesome. I always wanted to see that butterful in color...wait...is that same one below? Cool!
Funny you should mention this as my daughter took a couple of my butterfly photos and has them made into black and white posters to hang. I got to see them last weekend and they gave me an entirely different view of that I thought I had taken. Not bad, different and she liked it..so there it is...
New Rambling Woods Site
For me, that are too many elements in this image to have the B&W convey much to me. And besides, I saw the colour one yesterday and thought my eyes were deceiving me today when I saw the exact same image on the portal but in B&W.
I think I prefer the colored version of this, just because it was SO vibrant. But a beautiful shot for sure.
I find the bee really gets lost in the greyscale version. I didn't even see it at first, so when I scrolled down to see the colour version, it jumped right out at me and I had to go back and take another look.
je préfère la version couleur, je trouve que la version b&w manque de contrasme.
I prefer the color version, I find that the b & w lack of contrasme.
I like the monochrome - it makes you look deeper into the picture and at detail rather than the beauty of the colour
I know I prefer the color one because of the very brilliant colors. The B&W melds it all together so you have a very different photo. The color is warmer. MB
B&W or Color ... whatever... YOU GOT 2 CRITTERS IN ONE SHOT! Amazing. I can barely get one in usually with wings folded. Or usually with the flower & the bee/b-fly gone the instant the shutter goes off. these are Wonderful.
I recognised it immediately. I have to say I prefer colour for flowers and nature shots generally. I started out to be a biologist so these things were something I needed. My old bird identification books with greyscale illustrations always rankled.
So, as a dedicated MManiac, the answer is colour.
I like this in mono because it becomes an abstract study of texture rather than a study of familiar insects and flowers. But the color, well, it's a gorgeous nature shot!
Babooshka, I love your many views of Ramsey and the world.
I'd go for the colour in this one as I don't feel the three elements are sufficiently defined to look as good in monochrome.
I did not see the Bee in the first shot until I'd looked at the color one. I think taking away the color lets you see shape and form better, thats why it works so well with buildings.
I like the colour one better, because the bee stands out more. Otherwise the B&W is great.
Thanks for the naming lesson yesterday - something I never knew! Of course Linnaeus used the "J", it would be natural to him. I've always used "I", so I'll carry on now!
Color one for me, please.
B&W for inanimated things (as buildings, mecanical devices, things in general) and color (for living ones, except portraits to seize better the expression and feelings)
The black and white. A photographer of portraits always black and white. Nature is given new life with no distracting color. I would like two expamles of the same image again. I feel your helping hand is wasted on some people.
I think the black and white looks great, I do find it hard to take good black and white pictures, its something I need to work on.
Having been a photographer when the only film available was, in fact, black and white, I would never substitute black and white for color. If I saw things in black and white and not in color I would probably like it more than I do but after many years of only having black and white I appreciate color especially in Nature.
Having said that, it doesn't change the beauty of the shot you took or gave us in black and white.
I am old enough to have had my own dark-room. I therefore also know that you approach B&w and colour in the same way when it comes to the basic principle and all that, but also that you can present things differently and achieve different results depending on the media.
I'm no expert, I just like what I see. The butterfly stands out in the black and white one. The bee stands out in the colour one. Can I say I think both are special. How rude are some people, I would delete those comments, who needs them. I like having two photos to compare.
A well composed photo looks good in either form.
Hello Babooshka !
It's very nice to see the same photo in B&W and in colour...
Your text is good too...
See You later !
I prefer the one in color, as you mentioned this is just a composed picture, although I always do some post-photography works, like the photoshop...:)
Interesting photo! I like the B&W best.
My odd shot is HERE
I think I've already said this before. Personally, I prefer the color shot especially as a nature photo. But color can sometimes be a distraction if it's something else you want to emphasize, like patterns, shapes, lines or even what a creature is doing. So in the end, it really depends on the purpose of the photo. (Spoken like a true Jesuit-trained student! LOL!)
Oops, I forgot to say: My Odd Shot is A slight disconnect.
I do like both, too. Each has its own place and purpose. My preference is the colored one, though.
Serendipity at work, for sure. Bees are fairly easy to capture, but butterflies are so flighty, it's hard to get a good capture. I like both your photos. Not all photos look good, both ways, but yours do.
I probably prefer the colour one, but what serendipity indeed for them all to come together like that!
nice shot i too like the B&W
This one makes my brain feel funny! Its got to be the colour one for me.
the light quality and direction and the details and composition make this photo even more nicer in black and white, B.
Amazing how they look entirely different to me in BW vs. Color! Love the detail that jumps out to me in this one!
What a meeting!! I prefer the b&w version in which the two beings come out better! Lovely photo!!
I have to say I like the vibrancy of the coloured shot and don't get much from the b&w - if the latter were enlarged it might be more interesting/appealing.
But like always these things should never be either/or.
I'm with Carver on this one. I like both versions, but for different reasons. The color version is what you'd expect to see so it has that comfortable feel to it. But the monochrome version has such remarkable tonal range and contrast that it's impossible not to love it. And if you mind is filling in the missing colors, then the photo is making you think. And isn't that a good thing?
I vote yes. But thats' just me.
This was really interesting to see which way you went and why. Actually gave me something to think about too. Cheers all.
Thanks for droping by and also Thanks
for sharing your thought about photography.
Have a nice day.
Well, I like this particular one better in color. For me, monochrome works best for sculptural shapes, where the planes of light and dark are striking and stark; also for portraits where the goal is a timeless or haunting quality. Interesting entry - you made me think.
After looking closely at both pics I decided I really like this photo in black n white. It is almost like a little abstract piece of art. :)
If you want it in black and white then you do it in black and white. :-) Still, I think this one does lose a little something in the translation. I still like it though. There was a time when nothing was in color. ;-)
Love both shots, but the more I look at this one, the more I feel an atmosphere in it that is so appealing! Beautiful!
In colour I noticed the butterfly. In B&W the flower.
Both are great for different reasons!
Kisses from Nydia.
I am preferring the color to th eblack and white image. Whay? Not quite sure, possibly lack of definable contrast, ssems quite busy. However, the wing of the butterfly would look quite stunning in B&W where the details and shades of monochrome would pop out.
the b/w softens the image while the color makes it pop...the details seem more pronounced in the color as far as the flower goes.
my preference the color shot.
The color image is stunning and is beautiful to look at, however, I prefer the black and white.
To me is equal, not one portion of the picture outshines the other-they are all equal.
Having scanned down to the colour version I do have to say I prefer that one but the mono one does have a certain appeal,it's amazing how the same photo can look so different without the colour Beautiful shot though.
There is something "timeless" about black and white that I have always been drawn to. Thanks.
Know I'm late but had to comment on this one. Really don't like this in black and white - it almost totally negates the subject matter. I love black and white photography but feel it works better with architecture, portraits and certain landscape subjects. But that's just how I feel about it!
Absolutely fantastic picture, what a moment to capture these creatures together like this. But black and white doesn't do it justice.
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