When the Colors Don't Work....

[hmca]

I wanted to create a page from a recent visit to this lighthouse.

After trying just about everything I could think of to make this work I finally gave up and converted it to B/W.  Given the subject matter I don't think it looks too bad......but I don't remember ever seeing a page shared in B/W.  Not that I want to do it over but I would be interested in how you might have handled it?

[cats4jan]

I am having difficulty choosing the one I prefer. Usually I am against b/w - because life is not colorless. However, both of these do a good job of telling the story. And I do not think the photos clash, so there is no reason to avoid the colors.  But the b/w does look good. 

Helpful?  Not too much. LOL

[Lillias]

Oct 21, 2024 0:25:31 GMT hmca said:

I wanted to create a page from a recent visit to this lighthouse.

After trying just about everything I could think of to make this work I finally gave up and converted it to B/W.  Given the subject matter I don't think it looks too bad......but I don't remember ever seeing a page shared in B/W.  Not that I want to do it over but I would be interested in how you might have handled it?

Having watched more than my fair share of home decor programmes over the years where brown and blue were paired together intentionally I would say your colours work just fine and according to what I have read on various Sites blue and brown are deemed to be complementary colours.

My choice would certainly be for your coloured page. It looks great and tells the story of the lighthouse very well. I wouldn’t change a single thing about it.

That being said, your B&W page looks good and also tells the story but I would put it in a different category. Because it’s B&W the overall look of the page (to me) comes over as much more dramatic. Just look at that lowering sky for example - as if there is a storm brewing and it seems to emphasise the shadows more somehow.

Either way, I would say you have a winner.

[hmca]

Thanks for your thoughts, Janice and Lillias.

I have to admit that it doesn't look as bad to me today as it did when I was working with it. While I do usually like the brown/blue color combo, it was the blue sky that just didn't seem to work for me. Perhaps if the colors were more integrated throughout the pictures and the blue wasn't just in that top corner I might have liked it better. Looking at them both today.....I still prefer the B/W but at least the first one looks more acceptable.

[pontiac1940]

I like both. I would have lightened the shaded side of the lighthouse. I would also lighten the bottom text. 
Having said that ....

Oct 21, 2024 0:25:31 GMT hmca said:

After trying just about everything I could think of to make this work I finally gave up and converted it to B/W. 

I sometimes give up on blah-colored photos and covert to BW. Skies might have a yellow tinge that looks wrong. (Even after selecting the sky and desaturating yellows.)   

[hmca]

Oct 21, 2024 20:36:21 GMT pontiac1940 said:

I would have lightened the shaded side of the lighthouse

I did think of that but then it wouldn't be true to the overall lighting in the scene. Interesting comment about "yellow" in the sky.

[blackmutt]

I like the black and white version better fwiw

[PeteB]

Hi Helen


Regarding the color, I think a simple levels adjustment can improve the image. Checking the histogram {luminosity} shows that the highlights can be moved inward. Improvement will be seen in both the blue sky and the darker right side.. Also, the mid tones can be tweaked.

[hmca]

Appreciate the suggestion, Pete.

[Moto]

Camera Raw would also fix the colored lighthouse.