2.21.2007

Pasta: Black & White or Color?

Okay, I shoot a lot of black and white and when I shoot digital, I end up turning a lot of the photos into black and white in the end. However, these were actually shot on film (remember that stuff?) and haven't been changed at all. So, same event, different film types.

etiquette drop-out


In general, I'm all for black and white. However, for these photos I've yet to make up my mind. Which (if either) do you find more effective? I'm torn.


don't. touch. mommy's. camera.

So, what do you think? Color? Black & white? Just makes you wanna go wash up?

14 comments:

Bernie said...

In this case, color. The background is nearly monochromatic (the blue, gray and white are similar), and the baby's skin,the food and food stains (the main subjects) are similar colors and pop out. The black and white version is a little busy (although the baby's expression does stand out). This is all just opinion, of course.

The self-portrait photos are better in black and white ... very dramatic color and dramatic composition. Again, just opinion.

velvet said...

bernie-

Those are very good points and I think that you're right on this one.

That's one advantage of digital in that you can try it both ways with no loss in resolution. I may come to love my digital for things like that. :)

-velvet

Dan said...

Color, because it shows off all the splattered food on the face! ;)

velvet said...

dan-

You're right... it does. Maybe it's the mom in me, but when I look at it in color, it makes me want to take a huge, wet rag to his whole head. LOL

-velvet

savinoboy said...

I love black and white. In a wierd way B&W photos (if done well) almost FEEL more colorful than color does. I don't know if that makes sense, but it does in my head.

In this case, I side with B&W. In the color one my eye goes immediately to the bowl. I'm fairly certain that isn't the subject.

It's the composition of the B&W that is great. If you look the baby's arms, the bowl and the doorway all do a great job of framing and pointing at the subject, which I am pretty sure is the cute baby face.

Thems just my opinions. Both are worthy of hanging on a wall proudly.

Love the site!
Chris

velvet said...

Chris-

I love b&w, too, and I think that I understand what you're saying about color vs. b&w. I think. :)

Overall, I do prefer the composition of the b&w to the color for much of the reason that you mentioned. Looking at the color photo (in which the sauce on the face plays a greater role), I can see what you mean about the bowl, though I guess that I didn't think too much about that aspect before. Hmmm. More to consider!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope all is well with you and Adventures in Milk and all. ;)

-velvet

savinoboy said...

I'm sure the "composition" was unintended, but it's there. It works. And it's great! They both are, really.

Thanks for the kind words regarding AIM. It's moving along!

Chris

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Tough choice. Both are adorable pictures. I'm drawn to the B&W even though I love the food spatters that are more visible in the color shot.

I prefer the black and white because the background doesn't distract from the baby, and it also gives the pic a timeless look. Babies everywhere have made huge messes with food while learning to feed themselves.

I really love both, though. I'm so glad you're doing this blog.

thisisme said...

Black and white for me all the way. With the colour I tend to get distracted and lose the focus of the shot. Black and white tends not to encourage ADD in me.

velvet said...

Chris-

Glad that AIM is "pouring" along. ;)

-velvet

Deb said...

color for sure.

velvet said...

heart-

Thank you again for encouraging me to start this up! :)

I do like the timeless quality of b&w, which is why I tend to shoot it when I use film. However, this one is a tough one for me to call. B&w usually grabs me, but here I'm torn.

The focus of these two shots is definitely different, shifting from more of a focus on the event (color) to more of a focus on the child (b&w). Sigh. I still can't decide.

Thanks for stopping by!

-velvet

velvet said...

thisisme-

I love the b&w, too. But I'm still torn.

I'm glad that you like b&w... I like to shoot it. :)

-velvet

velvet said...

deb-

I'm still really torn between the two... I love the color of the sauce on his face.

Oh, it's too hard for me to decide.

Thanks for stopping by! I popped over to your blog and look forward to going back when I have more time to browse. :)

-velvet