Confession: I don’t shoot in black and white. I can’t remember if my Canon Ixy 800IS can even shoot grayscale, but I know my Nikon D70s can’t. That’s ok. I prefer to shoot in color and remove the color, anyway.
Here’s an example I shot at a mountain temple in Beijing, back in April of this year. (I still have a lot of pics from China to put up, but I am working on that.) 
But for now, check this out. Compare the color and grayscale versions…
(BTW, Just in case you are curious, this was done with BibblePro and the Andy Black and White Plug-in.)
on Oct 1st, 2008 at 11:26 am
The b&w is nice. But I will be honest, I prefer the color version by far. You have really captured a sense of mystery with the image. The mist… your composition is great here as well.
I think you should check out some photographers who have done Japanese street photography. I like alot of that work and follow it and I’m really interested in how elements of your collection are similar and different…
You should start doing portraits of your students and neighbors…
on Oct 1st, 2008 at 11:46 am
Thanks. Actually, I agree. After I posted this, I thought, that b&w is not that great compared to the color one. And also, I only spent a few seconds with the b&w, and it was one of my first attempts with that tool. So I wasn’t trying to show this as a demonstration of my mastery of it, but more the opposite…I really want to improve my ability and eye for it. But I am intersted in this, becuase it was less about trying to desaturate colors, and more about trying to mimic the old darkroom techniques (which i know nothing about!)
I have seen some Japanese photography, but I should check out more. I just play around, but I have noticed that I am starting to develop my own style, and that is fun. I agree it would be intersting to compare how I see things.
I forget the name, but there is a book of Tokyo photography with NO PEOPLE. It is really a radical idea to me, considering how the streets are always full of people! Have you seen that book?
Some Japanese who have seen my pictures say it is intersting to see what I choose to shoot. I am often fascinated by the most mundane things: a sign, a broken and discarded umbrella, or the sharp contrast between the old and new that you find here.
Anyway, thanks for your feedback. As soon as I have more time, I will get more China pics up. I had some great scenery to work with!