I have been doing serious photography for only 15 years and just recently looked for opportunities in black and white. Here is a photo I ignored as a color photo because it just didn't seem to be interesting enough to spend the time to process. This is the building opposite the Doge's Palace in Venice. It was taken at sunrise which is why there are almost no people present. I used a Panasonic GX8 with a 12-60mm lens.

The original shot: I kind of liked this shot but wasn't willing to think about how it could be improved. The birds were a distraction and a couple of people also were annoying. The smooth piece of white stone on the ground was at an odd angle and was too bright. Also, the end of the building didn't seem to have an element that worked for the rule of thirds.

Why I don't like the color shot: The building in the foreground is magnificent in design and texture. However, the red/brown brick of the building behind it is, to me, a jarring contrast and becomes a distraction.

What I like about the Black and White: I think this building is abut 500 years old. There is not much color in the building so nothing is lost in the B&W conversion. This created a harmony between the main stone building and the brick structure behind it.

This is how I see the differences in this image. When I last posted this kind of question, there seemed to be considerably differing opinions that were more about personal taste rather than what is the best presentation of the image. My questions are: Is this an interesting shot, has it been improved by the processing and is the B&W an appropriate representation?

Thanks for taking the time to think about the photo and responding.