Black and White treatment

These are two pictures that I took and converted into black and white.

First, here is a picture of one of the many cousins. I think that the original is a decent shot. The colors are nice. But I didn’t think it brought focus to her expression well enough. Converting it to B&W emphasizes that she is the center of the picture. I’m taking advantage of her shirt being the lightest element in the picture to draw attention and once your eyes are there they should naturally migrate north looking for something more interesting to look at: her face. I also feel the B&W version shows off her expression better than the color version.

I am so bored I am so bored B&W 

Next we have Aleah looking out the window. The color version isn’t that interesting to me. Aleah looks a bit dulled out in the shot with more interesting/bright detail being out the front door. I suppose that could make one think of the outdoors being more interesting than indoors… but I’m not that artsy. Now, when I shot the picture I was thinking about making it into B&W later. In the B&W, I think Aleah has more of the picture’s ‘focus’. She is the point making a contrast from the dark indoors and the light outdoors. I’ve also seen this style of shot done in the past and I like the effect.

Front Door Front Door B&W 

Thoughts?

One comment

  1. Some people strongly prefer black and white. I used to know a guy who only photographed in black and white. I like both color just fine but black and white is more… “art” somehow, and some photos are far more effective in black and white.

    The first one… Yes the girl’s expression is clearer in the black and white. I would like to see it with a little more contrast. I tend to like too much contrast i think.

    The second picture is almost black and white to begin with. It is interesting seeing Aleah in almost colorless shadow with the bright green outside. I think one reason she is clearer in the b&w is that that one is either lighter or has more contrast. I think the black and white is better… the eye goes to the more colorful outside in the color one and to Aleah in the black and white, but i think the color one is interesting.