A lot of my photography is outdoors with the natural world as subject matter. As a result, a lot of my photos are color images. In my mind, color is really the default. When I took this image, I was thinking in color:
ISO 400 18mm f/11 1/1000sec
This recent shot was taken on a beautiful morning along the South West Coast Path. It was a color and light filled morning, but when I went to edit this photo, I was only partially happy with the results. So, I wandered off and did some other things, kind of thinking over this edit in the back of my mind. A bit later, the back of my mind suggested I try a black and white edit. So I did:
ISO 400 18mm f/11 1/1000sec
This is the result, which I am much happier with. When I edit a photo into black and white, the first step is usually to bump up the contrast and saturation. It makes for a terrible color image, but it usually then makes for a more interesting black and white image. Having done that, I then made my black and white edits. This has a yellow filter applied. I then applied a filter to soften the image a bit but removed it as I think the texture in the image is an interesting component, and one that I wanted to leave in.
Nature images are most often presented in color, what do you think of this in black and white? your comments are welcome below.
Cheers!
Added to Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge, Vanishing Point and Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Creativity.
Photography Journal Blog 
I usually prefer the colour photographs for nature shots, but you are right in this case black and white made for a more dramatic result. The clouds look more fierce and strong. Great work
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Thank you!
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I like the black and white, the texture of the sky really comes out, more dramatic in black and white. Very nice.
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Thanks very much, that sky was what I liked best about the black and white version.
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Hi Amy = I like both – they have completely different moods. Might sound obvious – but the color version is warm, inviting and the teal water is just awesome.
The edited b-w version brings my eye to the sky right away. And has a quieter and more distant vibe (not cold but not as inviting as putting toes in the teal water). But the edited version has a nice syncing with the shape of the sky and the shape of the inlet – both were so fun to explore.
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Thank you very much for your thoughts on this. They do have very different feels to them. I was kind of surprised that I didn’t like the color version more, but that happens sometimes…
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It sure does happen –
Our tastes and moods – and also maybe the energy from the original setting was impacting you during processing time 😉
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Agree 🙂
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PS – not sure if you heard- but Bren (Ryan Photography) is bringing back the After-Before Challenge – woo hoo –
https://ryanphotography.uk/before-and-after-challenge/
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I hadn’t heard, so thanks for leaving the link.
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Yeah – and remember when I ran the idea your way? Which by the way – I am glad
I did not “push” myself into doing it.
There is a certain “blog mode” that comes with hosting – and while it can be good –
It is not for everyone. So I wish Bren well
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Yes, I do remember that. I’m always glad to see when people who host challenges feel free to come and go with it. It’s a pretty big commitment, so it makes sense that someone wouldn’t want to do it 100% of the time.
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I agree – and it is a pretty big commitment just to participate at times – ha (and case in point – I might not be able to get to the first one… hmmmm)
anyhow – hope you have a nice ending to the weekend and month
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Thanks, and I hope all is well with you too 🙂
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🙂
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Nice one. Beautiful pics!
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Thanks 🙂
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Very interesting Amy. While I prefer the sky in B&W, I actually prefer the image in color. It’s a creative conondrum😊
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Thanks for your comment, it’s got me to thinking about a version that is a bit of a combination. So many choices!
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Nice results in b&w. 😊
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Thank you.
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Nicely done! I am definitely partial to color images, but every now and then, monochrome is the way to go. It really works in this photograph.
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Thank you very much, I agree I’m usually a color image type 🙂
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Wonderful work turning into a black and white. Stunning photos and work. 😀
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Thanks Cee, I really appreciate you hosting this challenge. I enjoy looking in even on weeks that I don’t participate.
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I agree that it’s much more striking as a black and white image, Amy. 🙂 🙂
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Thanks very much Jo 🙂
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Your creativity turned a calm and peaceful scene into a rather more dramatic one in B&W. The sky turns threatening, and gives the whole scenery a movie feeling!
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Yes, the sky certainly does become more ominous in this version.
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Nice to see that you continue experimenting and gain skills in post editing of your photography. I prefer the colored version, is cool! The black/white, to high contrast (to my opinion), it’s… to dramatic, maybe too unreal to my taste? Gr Stef
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Thank you very much for your thoughtful comment. The black and white certainly is dramatic, and that can be a tough choice, how much is too much? always something I have to think about. Cheers, Amy
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This black and white is great, I like the light and texture of this photo.
The colors of the sea and sky are so beautiful!
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Thank you, it was a beautiful scene!
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It’s surprising how much depth and texture comes out in b & w. I’m like you–my default is color, but sometimes I’m really happy when I switch to b & w.
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Yes, in this case, I think it worked, I suspect that my default will always be color though 🙂
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That is true for me too.
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The B&W version makes the clouds more threatening, almost as an approaching storm may look, yet it is the blue sky in the colour version that is threatening in B&W! A very interesting juxtaposition, Amy. Did you walk the 630km, or just a part of the Path?
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We just walked part of this path, just to get a taste of it. My husband and I had heard and read about it; we have been trying several different paths during our time here, and have decided that really any of them would be worth the time to do and complete.
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I was in Fowey in 2015 tracking my wife’s ancestors 😊 Nice part of the world 😊
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Oh, interesting!
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I think both are wonderful in their own way 🙂
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Thank you very much.
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All those rocks! You are right about the texture, it’s almost like an old movie. And the semi-roiling sky (in black-and-white). Not to mention the turgid sea, like something is going to come out of it. As you mentioned, in color the colors tell a different story. Not to be maudlin! 🙂 I really enjoy hearing about the story-behind-the-photo in your posts. Thanks, Amy!
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Thanks for this, it is definitely two different stories in these images.
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🙂
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wow!! truly breath taking
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Yes, it a beautiful path to walk.
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