Friday, June 13, 2008

Blue Skies Again

Metro and CSX bridges at Takoma Station

In an effort to spare the air, save on gas, and work on my waistline, I've taken to walking places lately. Wednesday, I needed to go to the bank. I pulled on my sneakers, grabbed my shoulder bag with camera and accessories, and headed out the door. On the way home from the bank, I snapped this picture as I walked under the Metro/CSX bridges at Takoma Station on the D.C./Maryland border. I know last week's Photo Friday featured blue skies, too, so this is unoriginal, but when we have blue skies, it's a treat. It also means the temperatures have fallen and the humidity is low--two things I can be very, very happy about!


Which is better? Color? Or black and white?
(Click on images to enlarge.)


This pair of photos are also ones I snapped in Takoma Park. I found this gentleman sitting serenely on a park bench near the Seventh Day Adventist church enjoying the beautiful weather and some shade. What I can't decide is which I like better. The one in color. Or the one in black and white. What do you think?

Oh, and don't forget to check out D.C. Confidential today for pictures of Roosevelt Lenin!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

15 comments:

Jess said...

I like the black and white better, but it was a very close call.

lacochran said...

I like the color one because of the blue pants and the color in the car and the contrast of the hat color. :)

Anonymous said...

I always like black and white, but it sort of flattened out. I know of a way to save photos on Photoshop in black and white without losing the depth.

Anyway, both are very engaging photos!

Phoebe

J.M. Tewkesbury said...

Jess: Hm. I thought for sure you'd go for the color one!

Lacochran: I'm leaning toward the color one, too, for exactly the reasons you state.

Phoebe: I should send you this picture and have your edit it to black and white. Or, I should get off my lazy ass and buy a copy of Photoshop and install it on my Mac.

LG said...

I like the black and white. I don't have a reason for it really, I just like the feel of it.

J.M. Tewkesbury said...

LG: Hm. I had high hopes for this one as a black and white, but it's not quite resonating with me. Having said that, though, I'm glad it is with others. Just goes to show, there's no right or wrong answer, right?

Anonymous said...

I was too lazy at first to click on the photo to enlarge it. I finally did, and I don't think it's flat anymore. I shouldn't judge a photo by its thumbnail.

Love the B&W !!

_phoebe

LG said...

I think part of the draw for me is that you could just switch the car out for something older, and this pic looks like it could be from the late 60s. Nicely done.

Anonymous said...

Phoebe: Not a problem! Actually, I think it's a little flat myself and could use something to draw the gentleman on the bench out a bit more.

LG: Good point. Too bad there wasn't an old car parked there. I think that one element would really make the black and white version absolutely fabulous!

Anonymous said...

I like the black and white, too.

Debi said...

I think the color one has more to convey. You feel the summery shade the man is sitting under, the colors convey the casualness of summer, and like another commenter said, I like the repeat of the blues. However, the black and white one diminishes some distracting elements (the purple house in the background).

Really, though, both are wonderful pictures.

Debi said...

Oh crap. I also wanted to say how much I love the bridge picture. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT.

Anonymous said...

Liz: With your vote, we're at four for the black and white and three for color (that three includes my vote.) Boy, that is so not what I expected! Just goes to show, it's always good to ask others!

Debi: Thank you! I have to agree with you. In the black and white, the gentleman sort of gets lost. I wonder if I Photoshopped it, if I could make him pop more?

RoeH said...

Black and White always. I wish they had never invented color photographs. B&W last longer. Course I'm not talking about computer photos. All those grade school pics of the kids are fading away. Sickening.

J.M. Tewkesbury said...

Lucy: I'm often more partial to black and white, as well. I should start shooting more of my stuff in that medium.