Big Buddha - 3 ways - do any work?

[Chica]

I took this photo of Big Buddha in Hong Kong in glaring sunlight... the original photo shows Big Buddha as a black shadow. After some playing, I've come up with these 3 options. Do any of them work? Which do you prefer? Any suggestions? C&C appreciated.

Thanks

Cathy

[inmotion]

HI Cathy 1 or 3 for me depends on taste maybe try a sepia instead of plan b&W
cheers jim

[Geoff M]

#1 for me, the sky looks very forboding and suits the image very well. The others in order of preference are #3, and #2 but they don't have anywhere near the same impact as #1 IMHO.

A slight crop off the bottom to remove the three 'nipples' for want of a better word!, would work better too.

[lightning]

#1 for me as well, good impact

[Mr Darcy]

#1 for me as well, good impact

[Chica]

Tried the crop... looks much better

[Geoff M]

Tried the crop... looks much better

I like it when I'm right , It does look better

[DanielA]

I'm afraid these doesn't really do anything for me. The crop does help though.

The first (BW sky) looks odd to me with the green colour standing out.
The second one (BW Buddha) is probably my preferred one, but the sky looks pasted in.

Have you tried a complete B&W conversion? I just tried going B&W (using lots of red, lots of green and negative blue) then ramped the contrast. Here's what it looks like:

Let me know if you want me to take it down. I'm sure you can do a better job.

Another option (normally only spoken of in whispers) is to replace the sky with one from another image.

Daniel

[Ant]

#1 for me as well. I really think the Buddha needs to be in colour to avoid looking like a giant concrete statue.

Ant.

[zafra52]

I prefer the second also. However, I must say, the angle
and the cloud behind the statue makes me think that
it was on fire or it had some kind of burning offering
on his hands.

[surenj]

I prefer the crop and the last one with the blue with slightly more green added so that it doesn't clash too much with the greenish budda.