San Sebastian Cathedral – Ceiling Shot – Colour or Black and White?


Some shots work better in colour, some in black and white.

Thankfully when using Adobe Lightroom it is easy to do both. I tend to do whatever I was going to do to a colour edit, then remember that it might be worth trying a black and white version. So what I do is create a virtual copy of the edited image, then press the “black and white” text on the right in the develop module.

Voila. A black and white copy. 

Once I have done this I will have a quick think and see if the black and white option is worth pursuing, which more times than not it is. 

Like with this shot below of the ceiling in the spectacular Cathedral in San Sebastián.

This should work well in black and white. 

Well to start with I love the colour version.  This could be a tricky one…..

It has lovely muted, calming, subtle colours. 

So what does the black and white version look like? 

This

It’s fine but those lovely colours are obviously lost, and there is not enough in this black and white version of the image for me. 

So this time colour wins. 

I could have taken the black and white processing further, and maybe I will in the future. I think I will add some drama to the black and white shot – keep checking my blog to see the drama version! But so far the colour version is the winner!!

Let me know which you prefer! 

Thanks for reading this post, and please get in touch via my website with any photography related query at 

www.rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk

I am an architectural photographer living in Dorset working in Hampshire, Surrey and London as well as Dorset

 

Rick McEvoy

I am Rick McEvoy, an architectural and construction photographer living and working in the South of England. I create high quality architectural photography and construction photography imagery of the built environment for architects and commercial clients. I do not photograph weddings, families, small people or pets - anything that is alive, moves or might not do as I ask!! I am also the creator of the Photography Explained Podcast, available on all major podcast providers. I have a blog on my website where I write about my work and photography stuff. Rick McEvoy ABIPP, MCIOB

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