Usually we go B&W because we want to allow the viewer to focus more on the structure by removing another layer of distraction from the photo.
In this photo the color is flat and uniform enough to add, not subtract from the photo, plus, it's water, so blue just fits here.
Also, i'd present this photo in landscape, I think it will give it more impact.
I respectfully disagree I love the portrait orientation! It makes my brain think it is a portrait photo (cause it’s a person standing) then I realize she’s actually laying in real life. The original landscape is dull and makes it look exactly like what it is:
This is a tough comparison as this particular black and white conversion seems a bit flat. If you can adjust the colour mix to ensure the blues become either lighter or darker greys you’d have a more punchy image with more separation with the subject. As it is the tonal range between the subject and water is pretty condensed.
https://preview.redd.it/gqm83ni3bq5d1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=be3824e3ef7b4bd85d679ed97ce72546a76a0c2a
This is sort of what I mean - with apologies for very poor editing. Here the blues are pushed to become lighter greys and whites for a high key look.
https://preview.redd.it/5rpv05fbbq5d1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8aa07896139650eebe1c6e0b78cd94e5472570da
And here is the opposite - pushed to an admittedly ugly extreme to show the breadth of options - where blues are made into darker tones for a low key look.
I think the color version works a bit better as there is a better separation between the background and the subject. Maybe you could try to see if you can make her body either brightor a bit darker in the black and white version?
I have to say, I don't particularly like the crop (especially viewed vertically) - if you can, I'd expand the frame to include the entire foot, or crop it more tightly. I think the vertical orientation would work better if you were to put the focus on the reflection of her in the water surface (kind of like a mirror).
For me, the current orientation is jarring as the surface is on the right so it took the brain a moment to make sense of it.
I would correct the orientation and perhaps try a b&w edit.
As mentioned before, the colours are so similar with water that monochrome may be a good choice.
Just get messing with the sliders until something appealing starts presenting itself, then keep tweaking.
Edit: corrected my left and right.
Color, but I would say maybe try to soften the water lines on the skin. Nothing too crazy, maybe just a soft colorpick of each area and then a small blend or overlay to make it less bright, but the patterns feel very distracting (unless that’s what you’re going for with the patterns ofc!)
neither. you discovered the main problem with underwater photography.
when you move in a pool you break the surface tension & you get primary waves & then capillary waves. when there is light coming into the pool from above you get what are called caustics.
in your photos, the caustics (wave shadows) are very disruptive to your subject.
you either want to calm the caustics by making the subject relax for a few minutes until the caustics become less severe before you take the shot OR you can think of a way to include the caustics in your photograph that helps your composition not hinder.
in this case, your photo is hindered by the narrow caustics on the subject.
With something like this you have some much creative room for how you want the color to look. I suggest color but edit it to make it a little more moody. But you can make it dreamy as well, maybe a little more highlights and contrast in certain areas to give it a little more depth. Also may I suggest rotating the image to give it a more interesting composition or “story”
Depends. I like water and water speaks loud in this picture. I would leave it in color. Maybe adjust her skin to a more natural color. It will pop out better even if you naturally lose reds under water. Maybe try not cutting off her toes but that depends on your taste.
BW
In this shot, color is actually super distracting due to just how many details (the lines of the shine in the water) there are and so it's hard to even look at on first glance in color
The blue seems to be leaning into purple maybe slide it in the other direction to make a bit more aqua, add some luminosity if you want it brighter. The contrast of aqua with black might be nice. Really depending on what you find pleasing tho.
Maybe try monochrome but move beyond B&W. Maybe something more surreal. Try saturating the scene to make a purple/violet hue to it? Then try red or green. See if another monochrome works?
Watch out for her stomach, it looks like she’s bloated. Her bra and underwear doesn’t look elegant, as well as her hair. The water in BW looks like she has scales.
What’s amazing about underwater photography is that it feels like you’re in an ether.
Check out some of the greatest underwater photographer and study their composition!
Going to chuck my 2 cents in! I’d go landscape with her facing down. Black and white but boost the contrast slightly! And maybe bring up the highlights.
It’s clearly all down to personal preference and if you want a more realistic or “artistic” feel to it I guess.
That’s my opinion anyway!
It all depends on the story, the atmosphere you want to convey. Some people say "if you miss a shot, put it in B&W". But others make it a specialty.
In my opinion, color is better
Usually I'm not the biggest fan of b&w pictures, but I think what's interesting in this photo is not the colour, but the patterns that the light refractions make. They are more visible in the b&w image and I find it to be more interesting. I'd correct the orientation though, I don't really like the fact that it's turned 90°.
Only reason to ever shot B&W in 2024 is shooting actual B&W Film, because it's cheaper and easier to develop at home.
If it's digital, it should be color.
Why is it a bad take? Please explain to me why would someone shoot black and white with a digital camera that can capture 16 million colors. Honestly, argue with me instead of just calling me braindead
Your post has been removed for breach of rule 1. Please keep the discussion civil. If you just put [Redacted] over things we all know what you are saying.
Usually we go B&W because we want to allow the viewer to focus more on the structure by removing another layer of distraction from the photo. In this photo the color is flat and uniform enough to add, not subtract from the photo, plus, it's water, so blue just fits here. Also, i'd present this photo in landscape, I think it will give it more impact.
Yes, landscape with her facing down.
Woah
i must agree completely
Insanely better
Yes definitely
agreed for landscape for sure
Facing down looks sick!
I went ahead and tried it out with her facing up and down [link](https://imgur.com/a/rzpLT4M) Both work but I think I prefer her facing down
I respectfully disagree I love the portrait orientation! It makes my brain think it is a portrait photo (cause it’s a person standing) then I realize she’s actually laying in real life. The original landscape is dull and makes it look exactly like what it is:
I don’t think it works for this photo, her facing down makes her look like she’s floating
How is color a distraction?
Colour
Color, but tone down the saturation just a bit
This is a tough comparison as this particular black and white conversion seems a bit flat. If you can adjust the colour mix to ensure the blues become either lighter or darker greys you’d have a more punchy image with more separation with the subject. As it is the tonal range between the subject and water is pretty condensed.
https://preview.redd.it/gqm83ni3bq5d1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=be3824e3ef7b4bd85d679ed97ce72546a76a0c2a This is sort of what I mean - with apologies for very poor editing. Here the blues are pushed to become lighter greys and whites for a high key look.
https://preview.redd.it/5rpv05fbbq5d1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8aa07896139650eebe1c6e0b78cd94e5472570da And here is the opposite - pushed to an admittedly ugly extreme to show the breadth of options - where blues are made into darker tones for a low key look.
This is pretty cool looking, gotta keep this in mind
WOW!!! 😍😍😍
High key is the answer here. Well done with this edit.
Colored
I think the color version works a bit better as there is a better separation between the background and the subject. Maybe you could try to see if you can make her body either brightor a bit darker in the black and white version? I have to say, I don't particularly like the crop (especially viewed vertically) - if you can, I'd expand the frame to include the entire foot, or crop it more tightly. I think the vertical orientation would work better if you were to put the focus on the reflection of her in the water surface (kind of like a mirror).
Colored just not these colors
https://preview.redd.it/x5stepvfks5d1.jpeg?width=958&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=31c9ec0f7d46945c268b3740e05de8845f4a1565 Color and landscape
Wow that’s better
I really prefer the B&W. The light refractions stand out more to me and gives it more depth. It also feels a little more serene.
For me, the current orientation is jarring as the surface is on the right so it took the brain a moment to make sense of it. I would correct the orientation and perhaps try a b&w edit. As mentioned before, the colours are so similar with water that monochrome may be a good choice. Just get messing with the sliders until something appealing starts presenting itself, then keep tweaking. Edit: corrected my left and right.
Sorry. Not at all. The shimmering distorts your viewing of the image. Is she pregnant? If the background was black and a whole lot less shimmer.
Color
Colour
Color. Maybe rotate to landscape too. Just tried it with my phone and it looks pretty cool.
I can't say because I am too focused on the foot that was cropped.
Color, it's a great shot!
I like the coloured one but 90' CW may look better
Color, but I would say maybe try to soften the water lines on the skin. Nothing too crazy, maybe just a soft colorpick of each area and then a small blend or overlay to make it less bright, but the patterns feel very distracting (unless that’s what you’re going for with the patterns ofc!)
neither. you discovered the main problem with underwater photography. when you move in a pool you break the surface tension & you get primary waves & then capillary waves. when there is light coming into the pool from above you get what are called caustics. in your photos, the caustics (wave shadows) are very disruptive to your subject. you either want to calm the caustics by making the subject relax for a few minutes until the caustics become less severe before you take the shot OR you can think of a way to include the caustics in your photograph that helps your composition not hinder. in this case, your photo is hindered by the narrow caustics on the subject.
Definitely color!
black and white
Black and white
I still see the blue in the b&w
hard to say, both! B&W looks great with this white lines from the light trough the water. Blue gives it all in 1 tone.
Bw is super!!!
Definitely colour
it needs to be warmed up considerably
My eye wants the color, and also wants it in landscape with her facing down.
Color.
Without a doubt, color!
Color
color, subject needs it for separation
Definitely color
I think the color really pops here, so that is my vote. The vibrant color adds a lot of visual interest.
With something like this you have some much creative room for how you want the color to look. I suggest color but edit it to make it a little more moody. But you can make it dreamy as well, maybe a little more highlights and contrast in certain areas to give it a little more depth. Also may I suggest rotating the image to give it a more interesting composition or “story”
colour
Depends. I like water and water speaks loud in this picture. I would leave it in color. Maybe adjust her skin to a more natural color. It will pop out better even if you naturally lose reds under water. Maybe try not cutting off her toes but that depends on your taste.
Color Mil Veces 😁😛
BW In this shot, color is actually super distracting due to just how many details (the lines of the shine in the water) there are and so it's hard to even look at on first glance in color
Super cool image.
Definitly color.
I like the colour. How did you take this?
Color grade the blue more, and see if u can saturate the light scatter on the body, and darken the back of the pool to make the blue darker,
https://preview.redd.it/c1rqyv1bgr5d1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0a2fcdd3749cd664dfac70cfbe7c921101e075d0 Kinda like this ish
I think black and white looks better, it makes for a more surreal scene. playing around with contrasts can make develop the qualities of your image
The blue seems to be leaning into purple maybe slide it in the other direction to make a bit more aqua, add some luminosity if you want it brighter. The contrast of aqua with black might be nice. Really depending on what you find pleasing tho.
You should try changing the blue to a little lighter or more aqua
Color
I like them both the B/W was jumped out at me at first look. Nice photos though.
I prefer the color version. I don't know what you were trying to achieve but that seems to be a really unflattering pose for the model.
BNW, definitely.
Colour in landscape more Short and precise answer period.
high contrast for b/w
B&w
definitely color
Color because of the higher contrast unlike the black and white.
Color
The blue. Very painterly.
“I try to live in black and white but I’m so blue”
I like the color with the high saturation. It caught my eye and gave me a "wow". If it was toned down I would have passed it up
Color
B&W doesn’t do a thing for me for this image, color for sure imo
I’d use both tbh
Color. 💙
Black white needs a bit of contrast , boosted white and black to separate useless distraction on other details on pic
Oooo both are really good! I love the blue in the color but the b&w really highlights the reflection of the water really well!
Black and white. But I would re-crop because the composition was missed a little bit.
This lowkey freaks me out
Definitely colour. Cool pic.
Definitely color.
Colour omg
I prefer the color version, albeit slightly
Landscape not portrait. And then decide.
Maybe try monochrome but move beyond B&W. Maybe something more surreal. Try saturating the scene to make a purple/violet hue to it? Then try red or green. See if another monochrome works?
I think you’ve got carte blanche to do anything and everything artistic with this photo! Diptychs, triptychs, Andy Warhol squares. Go wild!
Watch out for her stomach, it looks like she’s bloated. Her bra and underwear doesn’t look elegant, as well as her hair. The water in BW looks like she has scales. What’s amazing about underwater photography is that it feels like you’re in an ether. Check out some of the greatest underwater photographer and study their composition!
Going to chuck my 2 cents in! I’d go landscape with her facing down. Black and white but boost the contrast slightly! And maybe bring up the highlights. It’s clearly all down to personal preference and if you want a more realistic or “artistic” feel to it I guess. That’s my opinion anyway!
Color
It all depends on the story, the atmosphere you want to convey. Some people say "if you miss a shot, put it in B&W". But others make it a specialty. In my opinion, color is better
Color and it’s super cool
Do I get a third option of you doing the B&W conversion w/ more talent and intention?
Blue with a fade to b&w just to see what it looks like
Landscape.
Colour
color
Colour
If only she had her toes intact.
Color
Color!
Bw
Reminds me of works from this streetart artist. https://www.instagram.com/p/CMPqjjao3bg/?igsh=M2R2OXlibmVlYXUw
Upside down color. Would look great as a phone lock screen
Where is the BW
Color for sure
Color
https://preview.redd.it/z7lomzw1g76d1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=09ef491b12f289e710189608ea83e786e1d18b8a
B&W looks natural, but color looks like a 90s album cover
i would concentrate on making it the correct orientation first colour one for me
"correct", maybe it was OP's intention to present his picture this way ?
maybe OP can share their intention then ;)
I mean, he posted it this way, and only asked about color or black and white.
So do you know that's how they intended to do it? Best if OP can shed light on this.
Check OP's history, they did intend to post it this way. Hope this will shed some much needed light for you.
Eat a chill pill, their question is legitimate
Usually I'm not the biggest fan of b&w pictures, but I think what's interesting in this photo is not the colour, but the patterns that the light refractions make. They are more visible in the b&w image and I find it to be more interesting. I'd correct the orientation though, I don't really like the fact that it's turned 90°.
not at all
Only reason to ever shot B&W in 2024 is shooting actual B&W Film, because it's cheaper and easier to develop at home. If it's digital, it should be color.
What kind of braindead rule is this ? How about you do you and you let other people do black and white digital pictures if they want to ?
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Not a fact. Just a bad take. It's okay bud.
Why is it a bad take? Please explain to me why would someone shoot black and white with a digital camera that can capture 16 million colors. Honestly, argue with me instead of just calling me braindead
Your post has been removed for breach of rule 1. Please keep the discussion civil. If you just put [Redacted] over things we all know what you are saying.