Abby needed a head shot for a specific reason and wanted a black and white image.
I love black and white photography but I also love images rich in color. I admittedly do more color work than black and white. What I love is coming upon that image that just “works” in black and white. Generally these images come to me as either lacking in color variations to begin with or more infrequently (due to care of composition), such a hodge podge of color and patterns that one loses the subject in the palate.

This head shot was very simple as far as composition. It lent itself very well to black and white processing. But I love the warm skin tones and the color of Abby’s hair was so complementary, that I had to provide the color image too. Truth be told that is where I start anyways… If an image just jumps out at me as black and white I will process it as such and be done with it. On the other hand, many times I process the image first in color and then do a black and white conversion. So, quite often with my black and whites I will provide a color image. Frankly I love both forms of processing and many times notice the same picture takes on a different feel when compared black and white to color.

It is an interesting little game that plays out.

So, in as far as these two versions of the same image… what do I see? The color image is warm and inviting. The tones of her skin and hair are complementary as I previously mentioned. It’s friendly and bubbly. The black and white version, to me appears happy and bright.

So what do you see and how do you feel about Black and White compared with color images?

and with that… what color do you think this young man’s hair is… and this better make you smile!