I love black and white, and I am enchanted with how b&w sets the focus on the lines, not the colors. However, the colors in this image appeal to me. I'm conflicted: B&W or color on this one?
Jacob Eliana: Contemplation
The relatively vast size of the rather "unused" space makes the figure diminutive, giving an, (admittedly odd), God-like-view of the garden. The man seems to be a subject within a larger set. Still, in this original version, its colors give life and retain the man's identity. In the following B&W version that is lost! Our man is somewhat objectified and is little more important than any other element. The strong form of the windows on the left, the pillars in the upper right and the base of the sculpture on the lower right draw attention from the sole figure and drains his life force to its minimal level.
Jacob Eliana: Contemplation in Black and White
The extra, essentially "unused" real estate in B&W with the same level of clarity and illumination allows the motionless figure to be subsumed into the entire space! So how might this be shown otherwise? I offer the following as an example of allocation of attention through lighting and levels of clarity.
Jacob Eliana: Contemplation in Black and White
cropped and edited ADK
Here the space is smaller and more intimate and hopefully gives the impression of a man thinking in the aura and presence of a steel sculpture. The man and his thinking dominates the picture and we don't doubt he's not only alve but also in command of his choices.
These are entirely different ways of looking at the subject and each evokes a somewhat different set of feelings.
Asher
