I shared this here, and I know a few people mentioned it might work well in black and white. I appreciate the feedback. Sometimes, though, you have to make a choice and stay true to your vision.
For this image, I chose color—that’s why I posted the color version. The subtle variations in the sky matter to me. I do a lot of black-and-white work and I love it, but in this case, color feels right.
Everyone sees things differently, and that’s part of the beauty of photography. In the end, I’m the one behind the lens, and this is how I choose to present it. Thanks for all the thoughtful comments.