Torn between the shadows and light of black and white or the brilliance of colour . . .
either way, her beauty turned more than a few heads in the recent spring sunshine of Union Square.
* * * * *
For what it’s worth … black and white for me, Patti. The turban itself is so exotic, in concept and shape, that my mind immediately colored her – and I think the shot is better balanced, in monotone.
Thanks, dear, for your good wishes … I’m looking forward to this time next week!
Flop is right, Patti! I’m counting the hours till Tuesday night when I flop into a friend’s spare bed and sleep … like a teenager is what I have in mind!
Both are gorgeous. She is stunning and knows how to carry herself. I would adore photographing more people, but get uncomfortable doing so thinking I might offend someone. Stellar Patti! Margie
Thank you so much Margie, she was such a stunning eye-catcher! As for taking photos of other people, and I can only speak for myself, I have developed my ease with it due to the amounts of time I have on my own. I have reached the point where I now need to be very much on my own to do what I do so as not to irritate or embarrass the family nor to take time away from friends when they visit.
Plus, as I have said before, it never hurts to ask! 🙂
I’ve NEVER had the following experience before – ever. Your images did this:
In the monochrome Image I felt like it was a documentary photo from the 60s but the color version brought it screaming into the present for me. How wonderful that two extreme perceptions could occur from one image. THat girl has a GREAT look!
Brava! Both are good, and you know I lurve a good b&w, but some scenes are just made for colour, and this is one of them. The colours themselves are so vibrant, but it is also the placement of the colour patches from the buildings across the road which add so much to the balance of the shot. Totally gorgeous. Thanks!
My eye immediately connected the turban and sweater with the colors in the windows across the street,where the same red and blue in the turban and sweater appear. Nice.
My eyes go right to the woman in the second version (and I think that vibrant color helps clue me into her personality a bit more)…
But I also really, really like the b/w (maybe even just a bit more than the color)… there I first see the interaction in the sight line of the woman and the man to the left (and start to wonder about that relationship, etc.)…
Obviously I really like both versions, Ms. K!
🙂
Photoshop can be a bit intimidating at first – just because there’s so much it can do – but it’s just a matter of playing around with it – I know you would pick it up in no time, Ms. K!
Selective coloring isn’t quite as as bad as it looks. You can just pop-in a b/w adjustment layer, and then mask off any areas where you want to retain color (of course making selections and / or brushing around can take a while, but it can be kind of relaxing, too, sometimes)!
🙂
Well that doesn’t sound too bad . . . in theory. I think I need to make my peace with the layers and tools and with the suggestion of relaxation (!) in the process, what’s not to like! Hmmm . . . . but now I know where to go for help, SiG, you really are too kind!
(Please know, if you don’t already, SiG is seriously creative and very talented!)
I too like both, but I think I like the BW better because the colors in the background are distracting for me, and like someone said above, the BW focuses in on her gaze and what might be going on. Thank you for covering Union Square so well, so I can keep up! ; )
Thanks – the High Line is such a great place to take pictures, as long as you can get there on a weekday when it’s not jam packed. I can’t move at the steady pace that everyone uses – I need to stop and stare – and not get run over! And I know it’s your pleasure – that comes through clearly.
Stunning capture, Patti! I also like both. To me the B&W seems more meditative and open to symbolic reading, whereas the colour version has more narrative. The girl has great style!
hi Patti,
I would prefer the black and white versions – for design reasons ..
(I’m just working on a print version of my stories…)
P.S.:
just heard, that the Boston Bombers were headed to Times Square NYC to do the next bomb attack!
Belated May Day wishes to you Frizz! Zuccotti Park hasn’t seen much OWS action for ages although a small contingent occasionally pops up at Union Square. Which doesn’t mean it has gone away . . . . Here is the latest on the NY ArtFrieze
Very interesting to compare the B&W vs Colour. I normally choose what I think suits the image best and that is what I give my audience. If the colour distracts from the image then remove it is my basic rule and certainly applied in my shot of The Gaffer where the colours of the coach seats whould have drawn attentions from his eyes where I wanted the centre of attention to be. In your shot I think that the red of staples and that glorious blue jacket bring a sense of the vibrancy of the location with all its hustle and bustle. I also get the feeling that ‘she’ belongs there whilst everyone else is just passing through. It’s a great shot in both versions but I’d go with the colour one myself.
ps – did you get to talk to her? You see, I suspect there’s more to her than meets the eye!
pps – I believe the girl across the street is holding a reading device such as a kindle 😉
Martin, thank you so much for your great comment and how much fun is it to chew the fat on such topics, and that we have so much choice to do so much, or so little with images. The girl left the scene not long after and no, I didn’t get to talk to her 😦
Torn between the shadows and light of black and white or the brilliance of colour . . . either way, her beauty turned more than a few heads in the recent spring sunshine of Union Square. * * * * *
Both work for me but I love love love the colour. Seems a total shame to lose that in the trip to mono-land 🙂
She makes it look so easy! Thank you Geoff for your valued opinion!
I like both. Notice the cell phones but am hoping the girl across the road is holding a hot cup of coffee.
Let’s go with the cup of coffee!
For what it’s worth … black and white for me, Patti. The turban itself is so exotic, in concept and shape, that my mind immediately colored her – and I think the shot is better balanced, in monotone.
Thanks, dear, for your good wishes … I’m looking forward to this time next week!
Isn’t that turban fantastic and thank you for your in-put Meredith!
I am excited for you and the new adventure you have ahead of you but I am sure you might be more than ready to go flop!
Flop is right, Patti! I’m counting the hours till Tuesday night when I flop into a friend’s spare bed and sleep … like a teenager is what I have in mind!
Oh to sleep the sleep of a teenager! After all the packing and moving that state of blissful slumber is nothing more than you deserve!
I’d give anything for a couple of hours right now 2.50am! 🙂
So would I Meredith but I have to wait for the sun to go down . . . .
I admire your stamina!
Both photos are beautiful, highlight the instant a timely shot, interesting people and an elegant woman savage.
Adiós
Carlos
My thanks to you Carlos for your appreciative thoughts!
Both are gorgeous. She is stunning and knows how to carry herself. I would adore photographing more people, but get uncomfortable doing so thinking I might offend someone. Stellar Patti! Margie
Thank you so much Margie, she was such a stunning eye-catcher! As for taking photos of other people, and I can only speak for myself, I have developed my ease with it due to the amounts of time I have on my own. I have reached the point where I now need to be very much on my own to do what I do so as not to irritate or embarrass the family nor to take time away from friends when they visit.
Plus, as I have said before, it never hurts to ask! 🙂
I’ve NEVER had the following experience before – ever. Your images did this:
In the monochrome Image I felt like it was a documentary photo from the 60s but the color version brought it screaming into the present for me. How wonderful that two extreme perceptions could occur from one image. THat girl has a GREAT look!
That is such an interesting perspective, thank you so much Terry! She does have that timeless look, and style!
Brava! Both are good, and you know I lurve a good b&w, but some scenes are just made for colour, and this is one of them. The colours themselves are so vibrant, but it is also the placement of the colour patches from the buildings across the road which add so much to the balance of the shot. Totally gorgeous. Thanks!
I am so touched, thank you Gaynor! One moment she was standing there, the next . . . gone.
You’re right, she’s a stunner both ways.
Design to the forefront in the B/W; woman to the forefront in the color. To my eyes —
Personally Judith, I love her bright nail polish!
She’s jaw-dropping stunning in color, but B&W is more introspective
Thank you Tom for your valuable introspection!
I love the framing! The way you put her above it all!
She did it all on her own! Thank you as ever Annie!
Both are terrific but that color is brilliant for sure! Hard to give it up.
Some people do colour so well don’t they! I feel so drab . . . . thank you Ruth!
My eye immediately connected the turban and sweater with the colors in the windows across the street,where the same red and blue in the turban and sweater appear. Nice.
It was one of those more colourful Union Square afternoons, thank you so much SK!
My eyes go right to the woman in the second version (and I think that vibrant color helps clue me into her personality a bit more)…
But I also really, really like the b/w (maybe even just a bit more than the color)… there I first see the interaction in the sight line of the woman and the man to the left (and start to wonder about that relationship, etc.)…
Obviously I really like both versions, Ms. K!
🙂
Why thank you kind SiG! Now if I were a Photoshop whizz I would do selective colouring but that’s not going to be happening in a hurry! 😦
Photoshop can be a bit intimidating at first – just because there’s so much it can do – but it’s just a matter of playing around with it – I know you would pick it up in no time, Ms. K!
Selective coloring isn’t quite as as bad as it looks. You can just pop-in a b/w adjustment layer, and then mask off any areas where you want to retain color (of course making selections and / or brushing around can take a while, but it can be kind of relaxing, too, sometimes)!
🙂
Well that doesn’t sound too bad . . . in theory. I think I need to make my peace with the layers and tools and with the suggestion of relaxation (!) in the process, what’s not to like! Hmmm . . . . but now I know where to go for help, SiG, you really are too kind!
(Please know, if you don’t already, SiG is seriously creative and very talented!)
I too like both, but I think I like the BW better because the colors in the background are distracting for me, and like someone said above, the BW focuses in on her gaze and what might be going on. Thank you for covering Union Square so well, so I can keep up! ; )
My pleasure, thank you BB! Your recent shots of the High Line and other truly uplifting shots are absolutely stunning!
Thanks – the High Line is such a great place to take pictures, as long as you can get there on a weekday when it’s not jam packed. I can’t move at the steady pace that everyone uses – I need to stop and stare – and not get run over! And I know it’s your pleasure – that comes through clearly.
Stunning capture, Patti! I also like both. To me the B&W seems more meditative and open to symbolic reading, whereas the colour version has more narrative. The girl has great style!
Richard, I have said it before and happily say it again, you would have such a good time over here with your superb street portraiture!
Black and white for me. I think the shadows are lost in the colour version.
I admire your firm decision, thank you so much Mike!
the colour does her right…
She wears it so well doesn’t she Olive!
hi Patti,
I would prefer the black and white versions – for design reasons ..
(I’m just working on a print version of my stories…)
P.S.:
just heard, that the Boston Bombers were headed to Times Square NYC to do the next bomb attack!
Thank you Frizz and looking fwd to your printed version!
As for those Boston Bombers, I honestly don’t know what to say . . . .
My first thought was the use of selective coloring, too. Some cameras do it automatically, I think.
Beautiful shot, Patti.
Staples is open 24 hours?
Thank you Charles for your kind words and a reminder for me to check my camera manual for further unchartered territory.
Staples at 3.00 am can’t be any worse than Staples at 3pm, can it?
I couldn’t really decide which version I like better – well, I like them both!
You are very kind, thank you so much Rabirus – and how much fun is it exploring options!
that’s pretty neat, Patti!! Very nice play on light and color.
The sun definitely had its hat on when it came out to play that day, thank you Derrick!
Simply brilliant effects! Thanks & regards!
Thank you so much dllipnaidu! The brilliant effects were all hers!
striking 🙂
Isn’t she just!
black and white! cause love the lighting on her face…
Thank you shamanictracker!
Great photography once again Patti , Thanks for sharing my friend 🙂
Thank you so much and great to see you again Jake!
happy May Day, Patti – what’s about your “Occupy Wall Street”-Movement in New York, Zuccotti Park – sleepy? Resignation?
Belated May Day wishes to you Frizz! Zuccotti Park hasn’t seen much OWS action for ages although a small contingent occasionally pops up at Union Square. Which doesn’t mean it has gone away . . . . Here is the latest on the NY ArtFrieze
Fabulous shot Patti! And stunningly beautiful subject. I prefer the colour…too exotic and gorgeous to discard it 🙂
Thank you Madhu, I suspect she could wear anything and still look exotic and gorgeous!
Very interesting to compare the B&W vs Colour. I normally choose what I think suits the image best and that is what I give my audience. If the colour distracts from the image then remove it is my basic rule and certainly applied in my shot of The Gaffer where the colours of the coach seats whould have drawn attentions from his eyes where I wanted the centre of attention to be. In your shot I think that the red of staples and that glorious blue jacket bring a sense of the vibrancy of the location with all its hustle and bustle. I also get the feeling that ‘she’ belongs there whilst everyone else is just passing through. It’s a great shot in both versions but I’d go with the colour one myself.
ps – did you get to talk to her? You see, I suspect there’s more to her than meets the eye!
pps – I believe the girl across the street is holding a reading device such as a kindle 😉
Martin, thank you so much for your great comment and how much fun is it to chew the fat on such topics, and that we have so much choice to do so much, or so little with images. The girl left the scene not long after and no, I didn’t get to talk to her 😦
Both versions work well, but that blue color really livens up the picture.
She wears it so well, doesn’t she! Thank you Cardinal!