Your opinion on b&w photos with one color?

OhInsanity · Oct 28, 2011

are you for or against it, I talked with a college photography professor one time and he said he hated it. Is that just him, or is it a general dislike for photographers?

The reason I'm asking is because if my photo here: I am using it or one similar to it in my portfolio, but I dunno if I should leave it in full color or simply black and white.

dots · Oct 28, 2011

If it's a discreet, note of color like that red, i like it. But not so much the panel, left.

OhInsanity · Oct 28, 2011

ok thanks I can fix the panel =]

Bitter Jeweler · Oct 28, 2011

In general, selective color is used improperly, and typically draws attention away from the true subject.

To me, the red bracelet becomes the distraction.

I think this shot would look good moderately desaturated.

Try using the forum search function to find threads about selective color, and the heated arguments that ensue!

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...y/248958-first-bw-photo-one-object-color.html

JMBriggs · Oct 28, 2011

I agree I would leave only the bracelet color, but less bright. Awesome photo btw! LOVE IT... Good work on broadening your portfolio content. Sorry if I was a bit harsh before.

OhInsanity · Oct 28, 2011

Thanks guys! Dots> I see what you mean
Bitter Jeweler> I was thinking it might be distracting and I can see how that topic could hold high tempers, I guess its a like it or hate it thing. I'll go search it though and see for myself
JMBriggs> really? thank you =] its not exactly how I pictured it in my mind, but it was hard to get it just right while hopping up and down on one foot haha! and nah dont worry about it, I liked your comment, at least the second time I read it, the first time I was still in my hissy fit mood =p it sounded like something one of my friends would say

Im gonna play around with these pics a bit more with saturation and such and see what I can come up with

OhInsanity · Oct 28, 2011

awe man I just followed that link! poor chick >.< and thats funny shes from GA too, oh damn! she got madder than I did. I thought I was bad. lol

MTVision · Oct 28, 2011

OhInsanity said:
awe man I just followed that link! poor chick >.< and thats funny shes from GA too

I agree with Bitter.

I actually like selective color and I like your picture but not together. It's an awesome shot but the red doesn't add anything to the image. It is kind of a distraction. The bracelet probably isn't what you want people to focus on. Just my opinion.

Bitter Jeweler · Oct 28, 2011

One thing to learn and remember from playing with selective coloring, is how much attention a rather small bright spot of color can attract your eye. Think about how you can use something like that to lead a viewers eye around an image.

OhInsanity · Oct 28, 2011

thanks! I'll just save the SC for facebook then and try it in just b&w and also I'll see what it looks like slightly desaturated like Bitter suggested. I wish my face was in there, I could use it as my profile pic =/ oh well another time perhaps.
All I did with this pic was take the vibrance way down, but maybe if I take just the red out I can keep the rest of it that hue, because I kind of like the "rustyness"

Bitter, yeah I see what you mean, I wish the colors of the stickers had showed up on my guitar...that might have been nice, I mean on my other versions of this photo where you can see my guitar more fully. I wanted to like your post, but my computer won't let me, so just know, "like".

Bitter Jeweler · Oct 28, 2011

I kinda like the image, FWIW. I would like to see how you could have framed it vertically to capture your face, or your other foot too. I like the background lines, they are strong but not overwhelming to me. I also think the red/brown bit provides a nice counter point to your foreground shoe.

OhInsanity · Oct 28, 2011

FWIW? Sorry I'm very slow with acronyms...what does that stand for? and thank you!! I have a few with my face in them but there was they just didnt turn out quite as well, and I shot this by laying my tripod at an angle on a shoe box XD haha I couldnt think of any other way. maybe If I got something to stand on as well...then I could have a fuller picture. Huh, I wish I had thought of that yesterday when I took them =/ I'm always one step behind =p.

MTVision · Oct 28, 2011

OhInsanity said:
FWIW? Sorry I'm very slow with acronyms...what does that stand for? and thank you!! I have a few with my face in them but there was they just didnt turn out quite as well, and I shot this by laying my tripod at an angle on a shoe box XD haha I couldnt think of any other way. maybe If I got something to stand on as well...then I could have a fuller picture. Huh, I wish I had thought of that yesterday when I took them =/ I'm always one step behind =p.

For what it's worth

Bitter Jeweler · Oct 28, 2011

FWIW=For what it's worth. And I thought I was being clever using you youngins texty speak!

Your not one step behind. You are learning things. That's a step ahead.

I see an image in your Flickr I would like to show you a different way to crop it, if you give me permission to edit and post a photo. (which is a great way to learn by seeing)

OhInsanity · Oct 28, 2011

Oooh! yeah I'm out of touch with my fellow youths, I'm not too fond of my generation haha. And sure go right ahead, the only reason I opted for my photos to not be ok to edit, is so that not just anyone does it, but I trust you. BTW since you guys like this photo...If I posted a few more of the diff versions of it to my flickr, would you guys help me choose one?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/62664304@N03/sets/72157627876359979/with/6290179991/