Cross-cultural thinking

[The_Traveler]

This is sort of an interesting, at least to me, of how the color vs B&W affects how the viewer is pulled to focus.

In color, the vivid hues of the pillars dwarf the impact of the figures' similar attitude.
In BW, the figures really become the only center of interest.

[James Fitzgerald]

Lew, as you likely know I'm a fan of B&W photography, and this one does not disappoint.
A very natural candid photograph, it's is very nice with a perfect title.
If anything, I might lop off a bit of the top; just a bit mind you.

[The_Traveler]

Thank you James.
You might be right.
I am a fan of standard aspect ratio cropping (so as not to stir the attention of the viewer.)
I tried a closer 4 x 5 and then a 2:3 and both of those were sort of unsatisfactory.
Perhaps I internalized this as it is too much.
 

[James Fitzgerald]

I certainly understand wanting to present a normal aspect image Lew. But then again, sometimes I just don't care.
I'm hopelessly attracted to a square format. Many times it means discarding a lot of an image.
Still, you presented an image that made me respond. That means it works.

[The_Traveler]

I was hopelessly attracted to my first wife - and just from the use of an ordinal adjective, you can tell how that worked out. 

[Airy]

I'd just keep the bottom part (up to the girder). Perfect then, to my taste of course. The cultural difference is not that much : the young lady reads a *book* - sutra or whatever. And bare feet everybody: they must be near relatives. Very pleasant pic, which invites to further looking.

[James Fitzgerald]

No sense in beating around the bush Lew. You did just kinda made my day though.
A nice photograph. Keep them coming please.

[John Geerts]

A warm portraiture indeed.

I think it can win impact with forgetting the top and take the right 2/3 of the bottom.  But as you mentioned the colourful vivid pillars, that different framing can also influence the choice of colour or B&W. 

[The_Traveler]

Being among people whose electronic company I enjoy and whose comments/work I respect, is something I look forward to every day, even more from those whom I remember from the old NG.
This is the kind of pleasant, even funny, interchange that had made me hopeful for Nikongear Revival and which I missed so much.
As we get more comfortable with each other, I think this place will loosen up a bit.