Cropped B/W versus Uncropped Color (Cute kid eating hotdog)

[The Photo Tuell]

Which version do you like better? I think cropping out the sky helped, but what about Black and White versus color?

http://www.pbase.com/image/20479942.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/20196158.jpg

[SoCal69]

I vote B&W. I think the B&W version gives this a retro look which is complemented by the wooden dock, the child eating a hot-dog (how Americana is that) and retro look of the chair.

[slejhamer]

While I agree with SoCal's comments about the aesthetic appeal of the B&W image, I vote for the color version cropped the same as the B&W. To my eyes, the B&W does not have enough tonal range - her skintone is the same middle gray as the water and the trees. Perhaps some tweaking in PS would change my mind. It's a nice shot though. :)

[The Photo Tuell]

http://www.pbase.com/image/20975899.jpg

I tried the Russell Brown method and like it. So many options it's hard to decide what looks best, but I think this version is better. Under 'More Tips' look for 'Seeing in Black and White' on his website here: http://www.russellbrown.com/body.html

One other question...at the top of the picture do you think it's better to crop out the white part showing above the trees or is it better to make sure to not cut off her head? I decided even though the white might be distracting it's better than chopping off that nice curly hair. :)

[phidong]

I say leave some sky in the B&W and up the contrast a bit b/c the chair blends into the water in the back ground.

[jasenh7]

I vote for a cropped color version. However, it seems a tad more needs to come off the right hand side. She's slightly off center in a way that just feels strange when viewing the picture. I copied your picture into photoshop and adjusted it to 450 X 600 allowing to cut off the right side and that seemed to fix it a little.

Keep playing with it and post the results!

[The Photo Tuell]

jasenh7 wrote:However, it seems a tad more needs to come off the right hand side. She's slightly off center in a way that just feels strange when viewing the picture.

Yeah instead of centering her head I centered the plate and her feet. Since she isn't lined up perfectly something will be off center (not like we want everything perfectly centered all the time) so I chose the head. Maybe it would be better shifted to the right a little so that the plate and her head are both slightly off center.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Conk]

Both versions are nice but after reading Mitch's comments I'd have to agree. Also a shame that the boat is behind her as it adds too much to the image.