London's Statues & Monuments #4

That beautiful gilded golden figure atop the column, is of St. Paul himself.



St. Paul, London '10 #4

[IMG]http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/paulyrichard/stpauls1of1600.jpg[/IMG]

Seeing as it is a B&W photo, why mention that the statue is gilded? Because of your comment it should, as all photos, have been in colour!
Fact, the world is colourful!

I couldn't disagree more.

Great shot Paul, I have some I shot on film somewhere in the archives, but not as good as this.

K.

So why are all yours in colour?

Mine about 50:50 BW and colour if you look in my Pentax Gallery.

What I personally consider my best photographs are all BW. Anyway, Paul's thread is not the place to debate this, we'll have John after us for going off topic!

K.

Agree with Kris - I think Paul's photograph looks really good in black and white. It draws attention to the cathedral and statue in a way that I suspect would not have happened if the foliage and sky were allowed to dominate the proceedings (which may have happened in colour).

Mono for me Pauly - and see my comments on your other post FWIW...

By this measure I take it all photography was worthless until colour film was invented?

Great shot by the way Pauly, love the composition. In fact this little series of yours is really interesting for someone that doesn't get to London much!

It is interesting to those who do! It is making me rethink my approach to photographing war memorials.

K.

Thanks for the healthy comments, I appreciate it.

Walkeja, with the utmost of respect you have made yourself look like you have lost sight in understanding the use of B&W in photography. Surely, your playing devil's advocate, no?
You are right of course, the world is in colour, but it is also very distracting at the same time.

Kris, i've found in some cases that taking a step back and photographing these monuments can be very challenging and rewarding. I choose not to abstract them and take them out of they're context. Although I cannot outlaw it and they're maybe exceptions.

I can't believe you said that!

When I think of great photographs which have lodged in my memory they are almost all monochrome. I couldn't imagine Cartier Bresson's or Ansel Adams' work in Kodachrome.

I should personally convert more of my own pictures, when I do, they are usually well received on these pages. Certainly most of Paul's work be it the moving portraits of the dispossesed or his current set would be, in some way, of a lighter weight were they to be in colour. Think of Kris's work and you think of his ponies, or blurred birds or teasel. All in monochrome.

However, chaque-un a son gout (can't do the accents on my Anglo-Saxon key board)

Oh, by the way Paul. A unique angle on the famous dome.

Best wishes,

Andrew

Excellent shot Paul, and the B/W conversion is a must IMO.

Thanks Andrew, thanks Emma.

Lovely shot Paul. Have been here many times and you've captured the place perfectly. Excellent B/W as usual. I like the trees as this is in a garden area at the side of the Cathedral and the gilded statue is nicely occupying a gap in leaves. Stunner!

Regards

Mat W

Thanks, Mat.