Walking upon a Stone - The Last Chapter

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This is a follow-up entry to my previous post. In the previous blog entry, I asked my readers for their preferences as if they like this photograph in color or in black & white. As the result, the blog page had a record number of views to date. I also received many responses from many readers via emails, comment section on the blog page, and offline conversations. For this reason alone, I think a summary of the votes is necessary.

Three blog entries for one image are too many already. I promise not to bore you; this will be the conclusion and the last entry about this one photograph.

Before getting into the photography stuffs, I like to express my appreciation to Flux Lux readers who took the time to write me their preferences, comments, critiques and ideas; through those words, I learned a lot about this particular topic of "color-vs.-black-&-white". I also like to thank those readers who stopped by to view the page; even for whatever reason chose not to write. However, you showed up by large number. That makes me feel connected, and that this blog is not a waste of time and effort. Thank you for the support.


The Readers’ Choice

From the responses that I received, there are roughly the same counts go for both color and black & white version.

Those who picked the black & white version said they like it because:

• No reason, just prefer the black & white version.
• The image is all about shape and texture.
• The image is about light, form, and composition.
• The color version hides the poetry.
• The black & white belongs more in the “art category”.

Those who picked the color version said that they like it because:

• No reason, just prefer the color version.
• The color version has more depth.
• The beautiful warm light falls on the stones.
• The black & white version is not as beautiful as the color one.
• The foreground stone in the color version anchors the meditative story (click here to read the story in the first post, in case you missed it). The black & white is an exercise in exposure, tone, and printing contrast.

44 percent picked the color version, and 56 percent chose the black & white version. Clearly, the reader’s choice goes to the black & white version. Not by a big margin, but still the readers’ choice.


My Choice

Given that this is my photograph, I will cast my vote, and describe how I came to the decision.

After I published the previous post, I have a week to ponder. During this time, I went back and forth between the two versions for various reasons. Each one has its own strengths that are not present in the other, and vice versa. It is a tough call for me – especially it is my photograph – it is difficult to be objective. This turns out to be more of a mental exercise for me.

A dear friend of mine likes to say, “In writing, words are medium of expression.” Similarly, in photography, I think black & white and color are medium of expression. All the things – we, photographers, pay so much attention to – such as, lighting, textures, shape, forms, tone, contrast, etc. are, I think, words, sentences, paragraphs, pages which collectively comprise a book.

Do we judge a book by its cover? What kind of paper is used? Which font is used? Nope, we judge a book by its story. A good book has to tell a good story.

Now the question is which version of this image tells a story? And, if there’s a story, which one tells a better story?

I like to thank L.K. and R.C.M. – (I am using their initials rather than their real names. And if you read this, you know who you are) – for their fine comments.

L.K. said “... there’s a leader everywhere, even down on the ground...”

R.C.M. said “...it stands out as THE stone of the epiphany... the shot says, “It was THIS STONE, RIGHT HERE” and anchors your tale...”

Both of these comments are responses to the color version. They nailed it on the first day. However, it took me a week to decide.

I finally pick the color version of the image because it tells the tale.

As they say, “that how the story goes...” Until next time, my friends.

-Quan.
March 2011.