* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #902 / Revived #122 on 2025 07 30*

Something a bit different.

Hi Alan,
Like ChrisOly I think the image was improved by undoing the cropping. I like good B&W images - who doesn't like nice shapes?! Here however I'm not sure the conversion improved the image. I have came back to you image twice now and have to ask you: What is your reasoning behind making the image B&W?

I like it better like that.
Nice shot and B& W seems to fit the mood.

The colours are really good in this. You have the sunset colours and all the bright neon colours of the displays too. And you certainly get the feeling of being up there in the cockpit

Excellent! Looks great in B&W and the composition works in the extended version as well, so I certainly prefer that. Well done.

Both images are great - well done!

Of course both also show remnants of absolutely horrible parts of history and human nature. Even for someone who lives in one of the countries where all of this took place, it took a considerably long time for me to grasp the extent of it all. I still remember when it dawned on me that the horrors didn't just happen in these few places we know by name because we learned them in school... but rather everywhere, perhaps even within the streets and houses I visit everyday. It's so important to remember - particularly now - that this can happen anywhere, anytime again, if we're not cautious unfortunately.

I like the strong colors and it certainly is an image with impact for me.

I've recently learned how much work, money (and water) the maintenance of a tennis court takes, and it's honestly shocking that people are willing to allow that, given how a vast number of necessary projects and investments for our future well-being could desperately need all of that. But that's human nature for you. Our thoughts (myself included).only extend to the next weekend unfortunately...

I hope I haven't shared this one before...

The weight of light by simple.joy, on Flickr

"What is your reasoning behind making the image B&W?"
Question by me earlier

"Nice shot and B&W seems to fit the mood."
Fireplace33

"Excellent! Looks great in B&W [...]"
simplejoy

My question is still the same: why B&W?
It may "fit the mood" but then I wonder what mood that is.
If "it looks great in B&W" - what is it that is great?

I do some B&W conversions. Sometimes with a tint to them, sometimes with traces of the colors or the he colors nearly gone but still there. Sometimes really B&W with high contrasts and grain.

So, my B&W images can be quite different. It would be easy to say that it depends on what I want to achieve when processing the image. The reality is that it often is a result of what I like for the moment.
There is however always a reason for doing the conversion. In one way or another I'm not happy with the regular color version and decide that the image is fit for a conversion. Doing so I leave the realistic documentary style and instead enter a surrealistic domain.

Alans image is, to me, mainly a documentary sort of image. Things of main interest are the waterway, the lock device, the industrial building and the trees. There is also a fellow photographer and a couple jogging away from us. The persons are of less interest and some would wish hey weren't in the frame. I too wish they were somewhere else but at the same time they aren't that disturbing.

What in this image invites a black-and-white conversion?
and
If converting to B&W I think it can be done differently and so making more people interested in stopping and look at the image. As it is now large parts of the image are kind of greyish and a little boring.

I'm not a regular here and I see you have threads for B&W images. Perhaps this discussion is old and something you have gone over and over. If so just let me know, perhaps offering a link.

Fair enough. I can have two comments though.
The people in the image quickly tell the beholder that he image is taken recently. The illusion of being old as B&W images often are doesn't work here. The other thing is that when the vast majority of all images were B&W the world was in color (of course). So, if the image is a documentary document rather than a piece of art I think it can be in color. No need to convert it: the audience may want to see the color of the building and the works. That may be just me (meaning, it's your image and you decide).

Now it's different! (Your friend left a leg there but that is of course nitpicking. I'm often guilty of that despite of trying to avoid it.)
No more people and the tint(!) make for a different impression. Way better. Now we are free to think whatever we like about the age of the photograph. The image is still on the "low-contrast and a little boring" side but it is improved also in this area thanks to the tint. If really wanting to do something about the image there still is an elbow to the left, an umbrella to the right and the warning signs to take care of. We can leave that aside for the moment.
What is your own opinion? Better, worse or just different?

I forgot to say that what I really hoped for was a color version with the modern people still in it. On one hand mimicking an old image is a reason to convert the image, on the other hand we have an image that by itself not really calls for a conversion.
And of course, looking at the image again I also notice he satellite dish and several other modern details.