Is this pic better in color or BNW. C&C also welcomed

tlamour · Dec 31, 2011

Photo - Version 2 by Tristans photography, on Flickr

Photo by Tristans photography, on Flickr

Personally, I think the Bnw is too grayish.nwhat do y'all think?

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thereyougo! · Dec 31, 2011

Traffic trails are nearly always better in colour. I would say that neither really works as traffic trails are shots that should have a leading line. Just as an example one of mine from Lucerne in Switzerland:

Traffic trails in Lucerne by singingsnapper, on Flickr

or here

Dresden road and churches by singingsnapper, on Flickr

naptime · Dec 31, 2011

i like the color version better. but there is a lot going on, and i can't figure what the subject is.

i would agree with thereyougo, all the great light trails i have seen, are on some type of curve, or create a leading line, etc.... these are sort of just cutting the image in half. but with no real purpose.

i'm dying to go shoot some myself, but its been too cold or rainy to go to a good spot. and i didnt want to just setup on the corner.

photo guy · Dec 31, 2011

color is better for this photo

ann · Dec 31, 2011

Night work tends to look better in color, as we can't see this in real life. the blending of tones and shades at night can be amazing, of course too long of an exposure and it can look like daylight, which of course is not the point.

tlamour · Dec 31, 2011

thereyougo! said:
Traffic trails are nearly always better in colour. I would say that neither really works as traffic trails are shots that should have a leading line. Just as an example one of mine from Lucerne in Switzerland:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/6514912935/
Traffic trails in Lucerne by singingsnapper, on Flickr

or here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/6385430425/
Dresden road and churches by singingsnapper, on Flickr

Nice examples. I agree with the leading lines statement. But rules are alway made to be broken. This isn't one of the best examples. It is too busy. When it gets a little nicer outside I will shoot more trailing lights.

D7000, 18-105 VR, 50mm 1.8, iPhone 4

MrsLittle · Dec 31, 2011

I think the B&W would be better if you added more contrast.

bazooka · Dec 31, 2011

I like the B&W better.... I think the colorful red trails are doing more harm than good in the color version. In the B&W they blend into the road more and seem to flow better with the entire image.

tlamour · Jan 2, 2012

I'll work on the Bnw and repost it!

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tlamour · Jan 3, 2012

finally found some time to work on the pic.

Dominantly · Jan 3, 2012

I'll offer a 3rd alternative, selective desaturation.

tlamour · Jan 4, 2012

Dominantly said:
I'll offer a 3rd alternative, selective desaturation.

Funny you said that. I worked on a version with selective desaturation. It was mainly bnw with the red light trails. I also tinted the red with a yellowish hue. I dont remember if it was saved though. I'll give another go.

D7000, 18-105 VR, 50mm 1.8, iPhone 4