Not everything is better in black and white
and if you believe this
or tell people this
then you know nothing of photography.
A photograph is not taken to look good
at least not in art
at least not in truth
when an image is created in truth it is created to match the thing that is in the image makers head
sometimes to match that image the photograph must be in black and white
sometimes it must be in colour
sometimes it must have grain
sometimes it must be clear
sometimes it must have people
sometimes it mustn't
sometimes it must have contrast
sometimes it must be dull
when you say "this is a good picture, it would 'look' good in black and white"
you are not seeing with your gut
you are seeing with your arrogance
and you are disrespecting the image maker
it is similar to seeing a painting and thinking it would 'look' good in black and white
the painter has selected those colours very carefully
and it is apart of the meaning of the work and the mood of the work and the feeling of the work as much as the subject
when you think or tell or talk to someone about a photograph and say it would 'look' better in black and white you are ignoring the choice of colour, you are ignoring the image makers concious decision to have it coloured and you are not treating photography correctly.
It may be a terrible photograph you may not like it
that is fine
that is good
but do not think it would look better in black and white
and perhaps it would
but it wouldn't mean what it was meant to any more
and photography is not just about looking good
it is not about numbers
gadgets
or pixels
photography, when given to someone in search of truth
just as with any medium
is about showing someone what you mean
and if you don't understand
find another photo.