Bierstadt for Isabelle

Heres the color...

Simply WOW Stan. Both are great, but I gotta go with the color version.

Holy cow, these are both great! The patches of snow keep me exploring the top half, while the calm water below lends a calming counterpoint to the stormy clouds. Awesome work, Stan. Happy 4th to you as well.

These are really nice! I like the darker clouds over the mountains with that little touch of blue. The reflection in the smooth part of the lake is very nice and I especially like the water over the rocks. I think the b/w looks very good, but after seeing the color I like it even better. I just really like the tones of the color it has. Happy 4th!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, Wi

B & W for me, all the way. The tonal range is fabulous! B/W also takes away the shift from brown to blue color cast and relieves the funky dark cloud cover at the top of the frame. When you can go from black black to bone white, with a wide range of grays in between, the little bit of color becomes superfluous and actually takes away from the image. In my opinion.

Stan,

I loved the previous image from here, but between these two, the b&w is much stronger IMHO - and here's why. Not sure why, but in the color version, the blue from the sky just seems out of place to me. Sure, it's the sky, and there's an opening in the clouds and it's suppose to be blue, but for some reason just doesn't mix with the subdued monochrome browns of the rest of the scene.

That same patch of blue and clouds in the b&w version create drama for an already pretty dynamic alpine scene; with the patches of snow, rocks and cascades at the outlet, and you yeah, the reflections too. And ditto to what Phil wrote before me. My only suggestion would be to perhaps raise the midtones just a smidge - but that's a matter of taste of course.

Got some keepers from this hike!

Lon

Stan, definitely think you made the right call on the B&W. Very dramatic and pleasing image. I think you got the contrast in the B&W just right. Well composed image. Best Regards.

I much prefer the B&W. It has the classic landscape look. Nicely done! I want your 5D2/17-40. Mine does not go to f/167. Nice that diffraction did not kick in at that.

I was going to edit that, but i decided to leave it in to see how long it would take for some wise guy to make a comment on it

B&W all the way,very nice tones. Great shot.

another vote for the B/W version, again it something about the color palette that although natural just doesn't feel right, especially against the B/W version

While the color version is quite beautiful, the conversion upped the drama by a factor of 10! Talk about an epic shot! Sorry I lost track of where you were this morning, I kind of got engrossed. Really enjoyed our shoot together, and I can't wait to see what you captured from there.

I like the color image, but I love the B&W. Fantastic tonal range.

For those who love B&W photography, this one is special.

B&W all the way. Fantastic shot!!!!!!

Geeze Stan, it's darn good thing you're such a good photographer because you can't spell for &@!% ! Beard-stadt??? Both versions are amazing BTW ;-)

Geez, Stan, this (b&W) is almost as good as your last post; actually I like the foreground riffles better in this than the previous shot. Both of these shots are outstanding.

Actually it aint my spelling that's attrocious Pam (altho it is ) its my typing that really sucks--i was only one letter off

b&w, no question in my mind wonderful, stan, i like this very much not least for the mottled effect that is rendered here. wonderful!

Definitely the B&W Stan. It is more dramatic especially the sky. Beautiful and majestic.

I think you´ll know which version I´m gonna vote for, the b&w. great conversion with whites/mids/darks, all in harmony. nice to see a b&w comp from you. love it!!!!!!

Wow, beautiful capture of an amazing scene Stan!! I always love B&W and this one is especially sharp for all the reasons already mentioned, BUT, I'm going against the vote I guess, and take the color version. Love the combination of browns and blues, with a little green thrown in for good measure. That dark patch of clouds above the TRC is a bit ehhh, but I'll stick w/ the color. I think!!

Hi Stan,
I like the color version more than the B&W conversion, the soft subdued colors make it a very pleasant image to my eyes. I like the way you framed the shot and I like the clouds at the top as a way to finish the frame.

Great scene Stan and I like both images of it but I'd definitely go with the conversion.

Pat

Both versions are great Stan. I tend to agree with Lon though and prefer the B&W. I am especially enjoying the dramatic look in the clouds that the conversion give it. Great stuff!

Color version for me Stan, Beautiful.

Stan, 90% of the time I'll prefer the color landscape over the BW. Just looks more natural to me because we see in color. This one is the exception. In fact, I much prefer the BW. Very dramatic, superior image.

Stan,

Wow! Beautiful Image, stunning composition love the B&W. Great work.

Without doubt it is the colour version that ticks all the boxes for me Stan. The colours are very natural looking and the comp is spot on.

Gary.

The B&W just stomps all over the place. Man, I'm off my duff-you inspired me to get and see that Colorado beauty.

This is beautiful, almost missed it, glad I didn't. B&w for me.

Thanks for all the comments folks! Im not surprised B&W is the preference--i thought it was no contest--but i did like the aqua color on the far peaks, which is what attracted me to the scene in the first place.

Stan Im favoring the color version as it seems a bit brighter whereas the black and white version feels like it needs a touch of brightness. I do however like the clouds in the black and whiter version better as it feels more dramatic. Beautiful location and a great shot here

Beautiful shot, Stan. The b/w version is outstanding.

hey Stan, this is absolutely stunning! Jaw dropper, fantastic comp. I do prefer the colour if you are taking a survey, but if it were my image, I would print both and see.