Color or Black & White?

     One of the things I enjoy about digital photography is the ease of converting a color image to black and white. Just a click or two and you now have a completely different look. Some people actually prefer b&w over color photographs and in some cases, I do as well.
     Depending on the subject, black and white photographs tend to force the viewer to look longer and closer, especially in landscapes. In the color image below, the colors help you to organize the scene in your mind. You have the blue/purple sky. Then in the distance you have the browns. Closer to the viewer you have the greens. In this particular photo the colors seem to divide the image into thirds.
    In the black and white image, these divisions are not so noticeable. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. Now you are forced to hang around in the scene, examining it. Textures, details and contrast take on a greater role in helping you to process the scene. So which one do you like better?