Recently I had a job that took me all the way up to Genting Highlands, which sit about 6000 feet above sea level. I was there over the weekend and most of my time was spent shooting for the job, leaving me no opportunity to roam around. Luckily, my hotel room overlooked the surrounding mountains. It was quite an experience staying in a place so high up that and close to the cloud cover. My view was constantly covered by thick mist but when there was a brief clearing, I quickly shot some images. Due to the mist and other atmospherics, I found that the colours were flat and dull resulting in me converting my images to monochrome and ensuring a more dramatic output.
Given the hot and humid of climate of Kuala Lumpur, Genting, where temperatures hover around 14 to 20 degrees Celsius, was very pleasant. I am not a landscape photographer but I can appreciate a beautiful scene when I see it. I must plan another trip up to the highlands again and make time for some personal photography.
All images were shot with Olympus E-M1 Mark II and M.Zuiko 7-14mm F2.8 PRO lens.
Here is a color shot to show why I think Black and White works better.
I shot these landscapes from my balcony view
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Ming Thein | Photographer 
Beautiful
PS. Robert Glenn Ketchum’s Sundance photo is a good way to see and imagine the possible outcomes of a color or black and white picture.
CF
Ming
Photos are not the same composition. The clouds, and therefore the landscape are completely different. The color photo has lost depth, the clouds are no where near as robust as in the black and white. The blue patch of sky in one of the photos is a distinct distraction. There is very little color so to speak in the color photo. There’s more foreground in one of the color photos then there’s more sky.
It’s a worthwhile skill to recognize when a color landscape photo will work better as a black and white. There are a number of considerations but in my mind these need to be thought about by way of previous study of both ways to make pictures.
The set of questions to ask and skill (I dislike that way of putting it) need to be a part of photography process prior to clicking the shutter. The most important question that I ask myself is what are the imagined and possible outcomes of the picture I’m trying to make and does the light match up. No light equals no image.
Claude Fiddler
The story of my life too! Infrared looks nice for these forests in full sun… try it even if it is simulated in the conversion…
Beautiful forests Robin! I do most of my shooting at about that altitude in a tropical country and I too find it hard to get good landscape compositions due to the misty conditions. Sunrise and sunset are my best bet… if weather helps!
Thanks! Woke up before sunrise, and it was raining heavily!
I understand your choice to convert to black and white. I did the same with some photos I took in central Florida this past summer. There were heavy storms rolling through and removing the color allowed the amazing layers and textures to come to the forefront. I feel the same about your photos.
Nice shots especially given the weather and limited time. I like mountain and mist landscapes whether photographed or painted in the Tao’ist mountain/mist/hermit tradition. I can gaze and feel myself relax and feel calmer.
The wonderful scenery certainly helped after a long hard day of intensive shooting assignment!
Your 2nd photo hints of a possibly great time lapse of the clouds hitting that ridge.
Unfortunately, most of the time, the whole place was fully covered by white mist!
To, Word Press Respected Madam/Sir, Best greetings 2201/2019
Beautifull !!!
Thanks!