Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Good points, though there will still be someone who wishes that b&w were in color :)

MtnMan Loc: ID

For me it is just because I generally don't like B&W images. I always leave my camera set on "vivid" picture control.

Maybe I feel people think they are trying to be artsy by using B&W and actually making worse images by so doing.

That said, I do find certain images more attractive in B&W, such as pictures of lined faces of rugged individuals. But those exceptions are much less often than I see people thinking that B&W somehow makes them more artsy.

rdhall Loc: Suburbs of Chicago

I think the request to see the original may be tied to what MtnMan said, some people like to see what you started with, so in their minds they can judge if the enhancements worked or to see/decide if they agree with what was done. Sometimes its fun to see before and after (this also includes color enhancements)

naturepics43 Loc: Hocking Co. Ohio - USA

So what you're saying is that someone is (ignorant) if they don't agree with your viewpoint. But if you explain YOUR "why" and they become convinced ( of your opinion), then they are open minded?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks Mtnman. I think I remember your posting a vivid photo. Definitely personal taste there :) And I get your point about if people are doing b&w just for the "artsy-ness," then it likely won't work.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Good point - before and after. I do see that requested when a lot of pp has been applied. A way to judge the effectiveness of the techniques. Thank!

RMM Loc: Suburban New York

Sometimes I'll ask to see the color version of a b/w photo because it's bland, with very little contrast. Seeing the original color photo may suggest how the conversion to black and white could have been improved by boosting the contrast between colors. Put a bright red and a bright blue cube next to each other, convert to black and white, and they may exhibit the exact same greyscale tone. In that case, you might want to shift one color away from the other. The same applies to low-contrast scenes resulting in flat, dull grays.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Approaching from the technical side, new viewpoint in this thread. Thanks!

philo Loc: philo, ca

To me some things are just better in BW. Maybe I'm use to bw for certain location or type of image.
i.e. Yosemite to me is both color and bw. color because that is what i'm seeing and bw because of all the great images of Ansel Adam. I was at an indian dance and most of my images I printed in bw because the kids took me back in time.
I love both and I will print and enjoy both.

Alan1729 Loc: England UK, now New York State.

I really don't care that much what other people want out of my photographs I take them for myself. Sorry that's not much help or maybe in a way it is. I like creating the pictures, for the most part I use B&W to create dramatic pitures, I find colour often distracts. I started with B&W way back when I couldn't afford colour film and got to like using TriX, I liked the grain you could see how the picture was made up. So much nicer than the noise in digital.

I've never been very good at knowing why other people do things or want things mostly illogical I guess.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Not at all. If they are open minded, they will listen, and reply in a fashion that we can understand. If they are reasonable, perhaps I will change my thinking. Every picture has its own personality, and experience and artistic outlook has room for many viewpoints. That is why photography is art, not simply record keeping, and that is why humans are a diverse and fascinating species.
Keep a smile on , and look around and enjoy the diversity - but never, ever insist that your view is the only view. Argue for it if you believe in it, and listen to those who disagree.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

When all we had was black and white film we had to rely on composition, form, line and shadow to express our vision. I recall carrying around a dark blue gel filter (can't remember the name right now) that reduced the scene to monotone so you could evaluate how it would look in black and white. We trained ourselves to ignore colour and content ourselves with relative lightness and darkness.
The advent of colour film allowed us to add colour to the expression of our vision, but we retained the basics of composition, form, line and shadow. Photographers who have never worked with the restrictions, and discipline, of black and white often rely on colour alone to express their vision. There is nothing wrong with this per se, but when those expressions are converted to black and white they are often profoundly unsatisfying. When viewers express a desire to see the colour version of a black and white image they may just be expressing that dissatisfaction. What they are really saying is "this image doesn't have the composition, form, line and shadow to satisfy me so I would like you to add colour to the mix".

RMM Loc: Suburban New York

Good points, and certainly informed your work with discipline. You probably used filters in situations where contrast would otherwise have been too poor to yield a good result. On the flip side, with the ability to select and manipulate colors in post-processing digital images, similar results can be achieved. Almost like being able to apply multiple filters to a single image.

shelty Loc: Medford, OR

Okay, here you go! B&W or color?

wthomson Loc: Tempe, Arizona

There is strong evolutionary pressure to maximize familiarity and avoid surprise for all species. Those species that succeed live in a familiar environment, those that are surprised will ultimately meet a very ugly surprise and go poof....