Colour to B&W - Consider the Difference
Taking the lead from A.Mac, whose concept was a revelation to me, I have gone through some of my colour shots and desaturized them, while also gearing up the contrast for more distinct dilineation between the darks and lights. For each photo I have posted first of all the original colour shot, followed by the B&W creation from it, explaining my feelings about what was accomplished by doing so. Thanks for that idea, A.Mac. You have opened up a whole new avenue for me to play with.
This is a 1500 year old tree. The red banners and lanterns have been hung on it for good luck (not for the tree, but for the persons hanging them).
Lacking the distraction of the red hangings, the focus is on the tree itself. in particular the Medusa-styled roots.
Despair personified, but the colourreduces the depth of the despair.
The absence of colour accentuates the emotion.
Because of its vivid colour, the boat is the primary focus when you view this picture.
Your eyes turn quickly to the geese in this case, arousing curiousity as to what they are doing.
On the subject of boats, this was taken on the Li River while cruising through the Karst mountains south of Guilin. Note that the hillside is a distraction. 
The hillside distraction disappears, most likely because of the lack of colour. It becomes no more than background.
One might think they were in the wild west for this, but it was in a small park behind a museum in Nanning, Guanxi Autonomous Region near the south of China.
In this case, the better photo is probably the colour one, because it is difficult to make the subject stand out from the background without the benefit of the contrasting colour. A heavier hand on the contrast and a touch of saturation was necessary here.
Colour makes this photo current which does not match the subject, which is retrospective. 
Now this definitely looks like a much older photo, taken perhaps in the 20s or 30s, which is a better context for the subject matter. 
In this case, colour does provide good contrast against the mist (pollution?). Your focus is on the flowers.
Now it is more probable that your eye is drawn back to the distant hills shrouded in mist.
What appears most attractive here is the pink-flowered bush.
Now the structure and the vines are the main focus, without the distraction of the flowered bush.
So the transition of the photos from colour to black and white can make a considerable difference, virtually changing the perspective and concept.
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