[Dabhand16]

I have to say that for me, a really top notch monochrome photograph knocks spots off any colour shot. I can't really explain why, they seem to have more impact, somhow.

It might be just a case of me being a bit colour blind, so I've never been totally comfortable with processing colour other than transparencies.

I'm not advocating just turning a colour photograph into monochrome on the computer, either. Although this can be effective, it does not always work. I think you have to be in 'monochrome mode' right from when the camera comes out of the bag. When I used to do a bit of monochrome processing, it used to affect the way I actually took pictures, and the settings I used on the camera. I'm so long out of it now, I don't think I could get back into the mindset without a long time working with monochrome.

Colour v monochrome is all about personal preference. A bit like the youth of today, deeply embedded in Sky - DVD's - and computer games not appreciating the jewel of BBC radio. All I would say is do not write mono off until you have studied some of the world's great mono photographers. Only then can you truly appreciate the art.