To shoot Color or B&W, that is the question

[eurekaiv]

Art has no absolutes, and everybody is free to think what they want. While I have met many wonderfully mature 16 or so years old people, it's easy to take such a stance at that age. I think it's appropriate to cut them some slack and let them shape their opinion and appreciation over the coming years of their lives, same as you and I were hopefully allowed to do. I think back at some things I said when I was even 20 or 25 years old, and cringe at what came out of my mouth.

This was exactly my point, though you've said it in a MUCH more sophisticated manner as opposed to my childish sarcasm and cynicism.

With the addition of 'I think'.... (that b&w is more artistic) it stops being absurd

I think O.J Simpson was innocent. I think that B&W is more artistic. I dunno... still sounds pretty absurd to me.

[keithwms]

I think what you think needs to be said more rather than merely thought privately!

[cjbecker]

I feel b&w is much more pleasing to my eye.

I feel color takes away from the emotion of the image. Color is very forcing on what the image is saying. B&w other hand let the viewer create there own emotion.

Color is dull
B&w is alive.

[keithwms]

B&w other hand let the viewer create there own emotion.

Please say more. Can you give any examples?

I am also interested in what it is that you find 'forcing' about colour.

N.b. I'm not trying to argue anything, I am truly interested in why people have these quite different feelings. Feel free to answer in the blog thread if you prefer. Or forget the whole thing if you prefer

[ME Super]

Personally, having not been satisfied with my own B&W work, I've shot mostly color. However, I've been hoping to hone my technique a bit and see if I can improve my B&W pictures. I may get out the instant camera and shoot some B&W on it with a filter or two in front of the lens to hone my technique a bit before I take the pictures of her birthday party with the real camera.

You're right about 16-year-olds having their own view of the world, and the with the few photos I took yesterday in color and B&W, I find myself liking the B&W ones. I would post them here but the aquisition method isn't analog, so I will just give a link to my flickr photostream ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/74582697@N06/

You are right of course about teenagers having their own opinions about what is art and what is not. But it's art - everyone has their own opinion about what is or is not art, and who is to say that her opinion is any more (or less) valid than ours?

ME Super