Which do you prefer?
It was a beautiful snowy day,
whether captured in black and white
or color.
Sometimes there are very subtle differences.
Not long ago, we had to buy either black and white or color film. We were committed to the results. Now with digital photography we can work magic with our camera’s software or by using programs such as PicMonkey.
Do you edit your photos?
If you enjoyed this you may like Barcelona – A Photo Journal
All photographs were taken with a Sony Nex-3N DSLR and edited in PicMonkey.
Susie Lindau's Wild Ride 
The first and third, I much prefer the color photo. And the second one I prefer the black and white; the color of the leaves is too distracting and I don’t look at the rest of the photo. Really like that first shot.
Do I edit my photos? Yes, all the time. But 95% of the time it’s cropping. Once in a while I’ll play with the levels in Photoshop. Once in a while I’ll monkey with the contrast. I rarely alter the color unless I’m getting funky with it on purpose. I literally live with a nice Canon point and shoot camera in my purse at all times. For my purposeful shooting, I break out my Canon 50D. Absolutely love it, especially with the one professional lens (L series) that I own. Pure bliss!
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Nice!
It is so nice to snap way with a digital knowing we can edit the pictures later. It used be so limiting with scissors as our only tool.
Thank you!!
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I always like the black and white. It just offers such an classic look to the images and appears artistic to me. Love digital cameras as they can do so much more now.
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Me too! Thanks so much Phil. I love playing around with editing.
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Must admit the black and white drew me in more Susie – great photos all round though
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Cool! Thanks Jim! It is interesting how everyone has different opinions. It makes me think that if I ever sold them, I would print them in both black and white and color.
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Fabulous photos – in both versions! The colours capture me, I admit, because of their subtlety. But greyscale is good too.
I usually don’t edit the photos I take other than a little straightening, cropping and re-sizing as needed for whatever purpose I have in mind. Sometimes I have to adjust the curves to bring out detail in shadows and restore what the ‘eye sees’ as opposed to what my camera’s CCD picked up. Still, it’s simply amazing how the digital revolution has transformed photography…and yet still kept it an ‘art’..
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I got into a discussion about that in an airport with a professional photographer. He was very defensive about what was considered art. I plan to blog about our conversation.
These days no one should put up with a crooked photo!
Thanks so much Matthew!
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I’m always drawn to black & white for reasons unknown, but I have to say these are beautiful either way. I absolutely love the last photo, which by the way should be in a magazine.
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Awwww! Thanks so much Lisa! I would love to send some in sometime, alas my book and blog are taking all my time. I’m getting close to the finish line….
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They are spo beautiful Susie! I love the mis of a hint of colour. You could make your own calendar like Seth lol :0)
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Thanks so much Catherine! That is a great idea. Maybe some day!
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Oh my, I sounds drunk, I can barely read it back lol.
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Susie, great shots. I like the BW of the pergola/snow, the color shot of the trees overlooking the lake and the subtle color of the bird landing on the lake. I’ve been a big user of PicMonkey for quite some time now. It does a pretty decent editing job when you want to do so quickly — for free.
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I love that program! It is fun to play with and since I don’t own photoshop, it’s the next best thing.
Thanks so much Brigitte! Great to see you!
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Great photos! Usually I’m a B&W girl, but I really like the colors in those!
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Thank you so much Thoughtsy! It’s another frosty morning. I snapped a photo of the Boulder Valley this morning. It looked like a huge lake, but it was thick with fog.
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With these shots? Color! Especially the fall colored leaves against the snow. Spectacular!
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Thanks Barbara! They were fun to compare.
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I like the option of being able to change from black and white. Some pics just look better in b&w. I use Picmonkey a lot, but mostly for cropping. Love your photos, especially the one with the autumn leaves. 🙂
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Thanks Coleen! And thank you for your introduction to PicMonkey. I bought the annual deal so I can use all of its fun edits.
I agree about black and white. It is fun to be able to push a button and instantly see if it’s the effect I was looking for.
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Overall, I prefer the color.
but your b&w versions do add something to them.
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Thanks Guapo!
I like to play around with editing and tweak my photos once in a while.
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Well, I’m a color girl. I guess I don’t appreciate the beauty of images in black and white or sepia when I know how much prettier everything is in color.
Gorgeous photos, Susie.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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Thanks for stopping by Patricia!
There are times when I really prefer the color. For me, the mood, pattern or balance of a photo really comes through in black and white.
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I like my black and whites to have a very strong focus/contrast…but in these images, I certainly think colour captures them quite well. ~Catherine
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Thanks Catherine! I agree about the focus and contrast in black and whites. I would love to get a macro lens and really have some fun!
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Susie, sorry for not being around .. here, had some healthy problems, not able to sit, walk or lay – feeling much better now, the medicine works. I love our world when it’s colorful .. and I think they are all very good, but I prefer them in color – specially the top one, because it’s so beautiful and the softness of the snow disappear in B&W and it become bold and dramatic, when the photo is very romantic. Second photo the same .. and with the strong colors on the leaves .. give the photo a depth, in B&W it looks like another photo. Last one .. blue give a delightful softness to the photo and gives it same drama which there is in the photo. Excellent job, Susie. You and your camera is a great team and I love how you have played around with your photos.
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Thanks Viveka! I love your analysis!
I am sorry to hear you are not well. Rest my dear and feel better!
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Susie, the medicine is working .. so I feel a lot better and posted my biggest post for a long time today, so the hunger is back.
I will take it easy … just like you are doing.
How is your “new friends” feeling ????
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The girls are great, thanks! I am glad to hear you are on the mend.
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Gorgeous pics! I think I’ll go with color in these.
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Thanks Mr. Eagle Eye for your eagle eye review!
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Black and white, definitely.
There’s something to be said for simplicity.
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Good point Hook! Black and white does break the image down into shapes and contrast. That’s what I like about it too!
Thanks my friend!
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I tend to lean on colour for a lot of situations. I do edit my photos and generally no more than 5-10 min. per photo.
Clearly you are a Hallowe’en fan/goul.
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Thanks for stopping by Jean!
As I learn more about photography, I find exploring the black and white image interesting. Living out here in the west, the colors can be amazing!
I am a Hallowe’en fan/goul! How did you guess! 🙂 I am hoping to post some creepy cemetery photos later today!
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Lovely pics.
I like most the color pics, there is magic in the colors.
… and yes, I usually edit my photos, but not too much, a touch here, a touch there.
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Thanks so much!
There’s a lot of subtlety of color in the snow. Now that I have a better camera, I don’t find myself tweaking as much.
So glad you stopped by!
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