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<blockquote data-quote="BackdoorArts" data-source="post: 374093" data-attributes="member: 9240">Selective Color, as it's commonly known, is either highly effective or highly annoying to most viewers.&nbsp; It can be very addictive when you learn how to do it, and that is when restraint becomes your best friend.&nbsp; Never do it because you can, do it because the color adds a voice to the photo that wouldn't be there without it - like the girl in the red raincoat in Schindler's List (though I am of the opinion that we could have lived without that).&nbsp; It's hard to make any rules about it, but my biggest one is, &quot;Don't shoot a photo where only the Stop sign is in color&quot;.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Because it's what everyone starts with and always goes back to.&nbsp; Nothing personal - just making a point.The odd thing is, 10 people can do the exact same selective color with the same subject and only one will be done in a way that has artistic as well as technical merit.&nbsp; That's because the technique is a means to a message, but if you don't know what you're saying then it's just words.&nbsp; Light and texture around it have more to do with it than the color, in my opinion.&nbsp; If the photo doesn't work as a pure B&amp;W then it won't work as a selective color shot.&nbsp; And if it works as a B&amp;W then it needs to work better with the color added.&nbsp; If it has no add'l impact then leave it monochrome.But heck, photography is supposed to be fun, so if you like doing selective color don't let people like me talk you out of it.&nbsp; It's fun, it really is.&nbsp; So shoot what you like and like what you shoot.&nbsp; But be warned, most people who do selective color only like theirs, and everyone who doesn't do it hates (almost) everybody's.&nbsp; So do it because you like it and take your lumps when you get 'em.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="BackdoorArts, post: 374093, member: 9240"] Selective Color, as it's commonly known, is either highly effective or highly annoying to most viewers. It can be very addictive when you learn how to do it, and [I]that[/I] is when restraint becomes your best friend. Never do it because you can, do it because the color adds a voice to the photo that wouldn't be there without it - like the girl in the red raincoat in Schindler's List (though I am of the opinion that we could have lived without that). It's hard to make any rules about it, but my biggest one is, "Don't shoot a photo where only the Stop sign is in color". Why? Because it's what [I]everyone[/I] starts with and always goes back to. Nothing personal - just making a point. The odd thing is, 10 people can do the exact same selective color with the same subject and only one will be done in a way that has artistic as well as technical merit. That's because the technique is a means to a message, but if you don't know what you're saying then it's just words. Light and texture around it have more to do with it than the color, in my opinion. If the photo doesn't work as a pure B&W then it won't work as a selective color shot. And if it works as a B&W then it [I]needs[/I] to work [I]better[/I] with the color added. If it has no add'l impact then leave it monochrome. But heck, photography is supposed to be fun, so if you like doing selective color don't let people like me talk you out of it. It's fun, it really is. So shoot what you like and like what you shoot. But be warned, most people who do selective color only like theirs, and everyone who doesn't do it hates (almost) everybody's. So do it because you like it and take your lumps when you get 'em. [/QUOTE]

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