Not-Quite-Black-and-White-Night - August 24, 2005

Here it is. This is the version of yesterday's photograph which I like better. And I didn't want to like it better.

One of the things I love about night photography (of the urban sort) is the different hues of the lights. The golden white of car headlights with the occasional light blue or bright yellow. The warm yellow of building lights. The green of sodium lights. And all the other random colors of a night time cityscape. There was some of that in yesterday's photo, plus the red-orange of the sky and the deep, midnight blue of the water.

Unfortunately, it was too much. The photo was busy to begin with, and all those color fields, in my opinion, just went over the top. It was OK to look at, but after seeing the same photo desaturated, knew it was a better picture. It doesn't have the same place in my heart, but it's a better picture.

...at least that's what I think.

Comments

Tom, I like both of the versions. Personally I don't get too concerned about the idea of "cliche" type photos. I think it like the basic themes of literature. When an author (or photographer) deals with a classic theme, it is not a "cliche" if the product has an effect on the reader (viewer). Ultimately, isn't the effect what we are after? So, keep shooting the "cliche" shots like these, because you are doing just fine!

Posted by: Bob on August 25, 2005 07:27 AM

Actually, I liked yesterday's better. I thought this one was perfectly lovely until I viewed it in its original form. The colors just make it that much more striking.

Posted by: heather on August 26, 2005 12:46 AM

I can't quite decide between both shots. They both have something I really like. The color version has these great orange tones, and the B&W has this kind of classical touch to it.
Well done man !

Posted by: @lbedo on August 26, 2005 05:11 PM

I think they both work fairly well with their own strengths, perhaps with the colour saturation very low, with just a hint of colours.

Posted by: Jeremy on August 27, 2005 07:50 PM