this is so vibrant and energetic. i'm a real fan of slow shutter speed! it helps a photo capture more than just one moment in time and here it seems to help to imply how the women are all working and mingling together in the dance they are doing (i presume it's a dance, forgive my ignorance if not!) this image gives me more of a sense of what is going on, than any perfectly frozen 'action' shot could.
I like your comparison Phil. The B&W image seems more surreal, I also think the suspended look of the dancers in the B&W image adds to the fictional element. they seem suspended in the air. Here there is real energy, the colour red obscures/abstracts the whole image, but in a sense it is the image. The other thing is that I think the other one seems more timeless to me, maybe because of the B&W, or maybe becasue the dancers are suspended, almost metaphorically in time and space.
Both this and the black and white image of these dancers (with red scarves only) function as expression, Kal. This ne works because of the color red, whch is not only in the scarves but in the clothing as well. It throbs with energy, an expresses vitality, a human value. It is more real than the other shot -- the black and white image with the red flags is fictional, while this is fact. You can't really compare fact to fiction, can you? It depends upon your purpose, right?
