Two interpretations: Burned out church

[David Kennedy]

Canon 5D & 24-70 f/2.8L @ 24mm, Really Right Stuff MPR-CL II
Exposed 1/400 sec. at f/8, ISO 160
Nine vertical captures stitched together with Autopano Pro
Church of Prince Williams Parish, Sheldon, S.C. (burned by British forces in the Revolutionary War and again by Union troops in the Civil War)

After assembling this image I spent a few hours tinkering with its presentation. Specifically, modifying the colors and shadows with Curves & Selective Color. By the time I was done, I began to wonder: how would this look in black & white? Now I'm not sure which version I should prefer! I come from such a color-oriented view of the world that I have difficulty "seeing" in black and white and therefore I never compose for it. Such thoughts of black & white are always after-the-fact, and I'm never quite sure if they're appropriate for the subject or not. In this case, I like the color version, but I think I might like the b&w version even better (I will post it below momentarily as I can only post one image per posting). All feedback is greatly appreciated!

[David Kennedy]

Same image as above, but with a b&w treatment and sepia tone.

[Dave Phillips]

you drew me in David.
I like the color as it is what I would expect to see, however it makes it appear as a modern day view of an old ruin
On the other hand, the sepia takes me back in time as a viewer.....it's more an image "of the time"

hope that makes sense...as a big wallhanger, I prefer the sepia

[Todd Frost]

While both versions are good, I too prefer the sepia tone.
Todd

[Maxis Gamez]

Terrific. I like both!

[David Kennedy]

Terrific. I like both!

Maxis,
If you had to pick one, which would it be?

[Gayle Clement]

I like the sepia one much more, David. I find the shadows a bit distracting in the color version and in the sepia version they add to the mood.

[Gerald Kelberg]

My first reaction was to choose the B&W/sepia; but then on reflection and closer viewing, I felt that the tones in the structure were too close to the foliage in the background trees, so there isn't enough separation between the two - particularly in the just left of centre area. I like the composition, and think it works best in the colour version.

Gerald

[Harold Davis]

i'm a softie for b&w anyway and this scene's time signature lends itself to b&w. i like the b&w. great job with the pano and the compo. also great job with the light in the b&w.

[Jim Poor]

I much prefer the color version of this one. Neat!

[gary rouleau]

I prefer the b&W version, its more dramatic.

gary

[Judd Patterson]

I have to go with the color version on this one...for me the B&W just looses that special quality of light that is evident in the color. Nice work David! I really like the 'outside' showing through all the arches as well as the unique arches shadows.

[Paul Pagano]

For me this works better in color. For this image, the b&w just doesn't put me in 'days gone by' which is what I like most about b&w images.

[David Kennedy]

Wow, thank you for all of the input! I'll admit that I think I liked the idea of the black and white version more than it's implementation. I think Gerald put into words the problem that I felt existed but couldn't identify with the b&w version. I think b&w is something I'd like to explore more often, but I'm never quite sure when to use it.

Cheers!
David

[David Steele]

I love B&W but for this image colour rules!

[John Wilkerson]

David I love the black and white. I live near New Orleans and there is a contest taking entries there that this one is made for. Its called Abstractions in the landscape. You can find out more here http://www.neworleansdarkroom.com/gallery/landscape/call.html
I think it fits well in the contest.

[Gus Cobos]

Hey David,
BLACK and WHITE all day long for this capture. B&W sets a different tone and mood.
Like it very much...:D

[Beth Goffe]

David, I prefer the B&W as well. I appreciate the mood and it draws me in more than the color version. I feel like I can just sit and stare at it.

[Arthur Morris]

Hey David, I prefer the B&W here. You know, however, that I do not like filtered light for birds, and in both images the shadows bug me, especially those falling on the outer edges of the two walkways(???) in the foreground... Go back on a cloudy day <smile>