Color or B/W?

Quick poll ... comments are welcome.

Made during a 2006 backpacking trip in the Holy Cross Wilderness. 5d + 17-40mm

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I like the black and white better, personally. The contrast is excellent, and the patterns on the rock are better demonstrated in B&W. The colors don't add much, in my opinion.

One critique, though. I am guessing from the waterfall's orientation that this shot was level/plumb, but the whole image gives me a very falling-to-the-right kind of feeling. You probably can't straighten it without making the waterfall look unnaturally oriented, but that's the only thing keeping me from loving this shot.

Otherwise, though, a nice intimate landscape and an excellent B&W conversion.

B&W, more moody..

Another vote for B&W

color

B&W for sure.

b&w

I should probably add my own perspective here. Jeff, your comments are great ... as I wanted to actually showcase the turbulence of the land around the small waterfall. Occupying most of the frame with the sweeping, disorienting lines was quite intentional. I'm leaning towards black/white, as the waterfall seems to offer more contrast/impact as an anchor in that version ... but the color of the rock (and contrast with the grass) was also fascinating.

Color for me! The complimentary colors accentuate those grass leading lines. The colors also give me a better sense of the scene.

Dude! Both versions make me vertiginous - but the B+W makes it worse. Since you're trying to showcase the turbulence of the land I'd have to say the B+W does it exceedingly well and better than the color version.

This one is a tough choice. The BW accentuates the textures of the rocks more, but the green grass lines on the color don't pop nearly as well in that conversion. If I had to choose, I'd say pick the BW, but darken the grass lines even more so they continue to lead the eye toward the waterfall as effectively as they do in the color version.

color- otherwise the waterfall tends to get a bit lost, as does the runoff

My thoughts mirror what Amy posted.

Woah - vertigo! Definitely black & white.

I am on the Color band wagon.

I agree with Joshua, the colored lines of the grass lead my eye back in to the waterfall. Color for me.

Not too confuse the issue, but here's another version ... more focused.
It WAS pretty trippy walking along this slope.

Color, otherwise the greens get lost and as Jack said, the complimentary colors are nice!

Color for the first version. But I like the vertical B&W best.

For me there is much more visual impact with the B&W. I really like the tones in the image. I like vertical the best, like you said, it is more focused.

The vertical bw rocks

Vertical bw is my #1

Jesse, Visually the color has more impact. You threw a wrench in it with the vertical. I'm with Don. A much more intimate scene. Nice. How's that one in color?

I like the vertical black & white, though I think I'd a color, vertical better. To be honest, I'm not sure any of these stack up with the other photos on you web site, as you've set the bar so high. The colors are a bit drab and the b&w doesn't have enough contrasting tones for me.

I vote for the color vertical you'll be posting here shortly

Thanks for the honest feedback everyone. Keywording, cleaning up and culling my Lightroom database in my spare time, so I may post some more of these.

The color version much more visually interesting....

B&W version two for me

Horizontal color version - I like the leading lines with the grass, which I think get lost in the horizontal black and white. I prefer the black and white vertical. The tones and patterns in the foreground add a lot of interest to that version to me.

I like both the color versions, but I'm probably a little biased right now since its so white outside right now and anything with color looks nice...Both are fantastic shots.

I just love a good b&w image, so the b&w vertical is my favorite.The falls did tend to get 'lost' in the horizontal presentation, and the slight vignette is just perfect in the vertical.

Vertical B&W. No doubt about it.

I love the B/White by far, that's with the vignetting. The vignetting works way better with B/W than with color. This kind of B/W comp with vignetting really Pops!!!

No contest--B&W all the way!! But the color vertical is a close third to the 2 B&Ws

2nd version- color. grass leads your eyes to the falls and runoff. Nice capture!

Thanks everyone, for playing along with the experiment. Every now and then, an image like this comes along and I simply can't pull the trigger - for whatever reason. This helps.

Color for #1 for me...B&W for #2, though the color version is just as nice. Sorry for the late input!

100% the B&W for me....I didn't even notice the lines and textures in the color version until I stared at it for several minutes. OPn the B&W, they popped off the screen, plus the tonal range is absolutely terrific!

B+W for sure. It's awsome in the tones department.

I like the b&w better from an artistic standpoint but I think the color version better represents the geologic drama. The vastly different colored rock isn't as apparent in the b&w as in the color version, where the statement of the geologic event that created it is much more impactful. Both are actually really nice, Jesse.

How about all BW except for the greenery? I know, not something you (or I) would normally do but might be a fun treatment.

On both, I find the first comp a bit wonky. What's the subject??? I think I get where you were seeing but might be more effective with less foreground on the left?

I think the second version is MUCH better. The only problem there is that all the lines converging at frame right really draw the eye to the frame edge... and out. A bit more space there would be nice.

These are all solid images, Jesse. What works best probably depends on the intended usage. In general, I prefer the color version for reasons similar to Bret's. The B&W is dramatic - and I really like it - but offers less visual context for me. If I was hanging one, I'd go B&W vertical. If I'm picking the strongest image, I vote for the horizontal color version.

Not a bad idea, Nat. I'll try that out for fun. And you pretty much nailed my hesitation with this image - the edge convergence. I took a lot of comps of this scene, and nearly every one features that same edge issue. May be why I passed it over long ago. Some of my commercial clients usually end up selecting images that I don't consider to be my best work - so it's good to hear outside perspectives.

B&W #2 for me. I like the more intimate scene and emphasis on the waterfall. The right edge convergence is a little distracting but I think it still works. Nice treatment.

Wow, I'm behind in my comments, and I thought I had already chimed in on this one. The B&W is a touch more dramatic, but that comp works with both processes so well. No mistaking your intent here, and yes, vertigo is the word that immediately pops into mind. Makes for a wee bit of uncomfort in certain areas of my body, if you know what I mean. Another uniquely "Speer" shot.

They both work, but I like color the best.