The gate

[andybarton]

Langdale Pikes in the background

Gate.jpg

[andybarton]

Here's the colour version, which I think I prefer

Colour gate.jpg

[stunsworth]

I prefer the first, moodier, one.

Photographic rule No. 347, if you have a gate in your photograph it will look better if it is open.

Of course you'll then have an irate sheep farmer chasing you over the fells <grin>

[elansprint72]

I prefer the B&W one too, looks very dramatic, whereas the colour one looks much calmer. Good viewpoint too.

[Jamie Roberts]

Andy--I love the tonality of the BW, but as I was looking at it I thought "what would that look like in colour?"--and you posted it.

LOL! You know, you need to keep the tonality of the BW in the colour one for mood, I think.

Ah well--it's a great shot regardless, even with the gate closed (and in violation of PR 347!!).

The BW reminds me of the photography in an old Powell and Pressburger film. Dunno why except it looks very British and also very cinematic! IIRC, none of those films, except maybe Canterbury Tales, is all that pastoral, but that one isn't that moody. Maybe I'm thinking of "I Know Where I'm Going" but I'll have to check.

[DES]

IMHO the B&W shot is streets ahead of the colour. The tonal range is excellent.

[rougewave]

Andy nice work. My vote to the B&W. Any chance to get the details on the gear? Thanks, Ben

[andybarton]

The second one needs work on the sky, in that case. But, I have an idea. Leave this with me...

R8/DMR and 28 ROM here.

[rwfreund]

Originally Posted by andybarton

The second one needs work on the sky, in that case. But, I have an idea. Leave this with me...

R8/DMR and 28 ROM here.

Lovely B&W. It adds visual separation.
I'd like to see the color version with some dodging and maybe a bit more contrast on the hill that is side-lit in the distance.
-bob

[Jack_Flesher]

Andy, very nice image --- I like boh, but prefer the B&W

FWIW, I popped your color image into CS and converted it to B&W as-is and liked the foreground a bit better than the original. IMO if you combined the original sky with it, you'd have a winner!

Best,

[malland]

Andy, all this is a matter of taste and de gustibus non disputandum est, but I find B&W one, despite the fact that it has nice tones, much too flat. I would do some selective burning and dodging or make elective contrast changes.

There is a very good book on darkroom printing that shows straight prints from negatives and then how they can be transformed into fine prints in the darkroom by selective burning and dodging. It's also excellent for digital printing for people interested in making expressive prints:

Amazon.com: Black & White: Photographic Printing Workshop: Books: Larry Bartlett,Jon Tarrant

—Mitch/Paris
Flickr: Photos from Mitch Alland

[malland]

Andy:

After I wrote the above I had a look at your website, where I much prefer your higher-contrast B&W. I also see that you may not need the above book, but I'll let the recommendation stand because the book could be of interest to a lot of people.

—Mitch/Paris
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10268776@N00/

[carstenw]

The B&W shot is stunning! The colour version leaves me totally cold though. I couldn't begin to explain why, but the B&W shot is really classic.

[azzo]

Don't think I need say which of the two I prefer

Andy,

An awesome capture.

Azzo

[fotografr]

Masterpiece, Andy. Simply stunning.

[stuny]

Andy -

Lovely. In this case I prefer the color. However, if you did the B&W a bit lighter I'd probably prefer that.