Which shot do you prefer?

kdog

Hey all,

These aren't my shots, but I agreed to post them here to get your opinions. (Hence, they're posted with permission).

Here are two versions of the same shot. The first is the original, and the second is a crop. Which do you prefer?

Original:


Cropped:


Thanks!
-joel

Ric Grupe

Dixie

I tend to lean towards the first one - maybe with just a little of the bottom cropped out.

EarthDog

I like both, but I prefer the first one. It has more of a sense of time and place, and captures the atmosphere better, IMO.

(Ok, I voted. Now, will those people please stop hounding me? )

kdog

Thanks Ric, Dixie, and Earthdog! I really appreciate the input.

So far we have two votes for the full shot, and one vote from Ric on the crop.

Ric, you surprised me with your vote, as you often post environmental shots with wildlife. Your recent eagle shot at the beach (sorry I haven't gotten around to leaving a comment yet) is one such fine example.

Anybody else want to vote?

Thanks,
-joel

evil eggplant

I like the first one best, the negative space works well to convey a sense of solitude.

Ric Grupe wrote:

Cato

I'm for #1, also. To me, the atmosphere is just as important as the heron.

kdog

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the input and will pass it on to the person who took the shot.

Cato wrote:

I'm for #1, also. To me, the atmosphere is just as important as the heron.

That was my feeling as well.

Cheers,
-joel

Antonio Correia

I like best the 1.st one because it transmits more the environment and is well balanced as the second one is, in fact.

jasonstone

#1 for all the reasons above - sense of place about it

Ric Grupe

kdog wrote:

Ric, you surprised me with your vote, as you often post environmental shots with wildlife

You got me, Joel.

I was trying to have it both ways on my crop. Bring the bird closer and include enough of the mist for feeling. I can see now that excluding the upper area was a mistake and hereby retract my vote and agree with Dixie's assessment!

kdog

Thanks for the input, folks.

Ric Grupe wrote:

You got me, Joel.

I was trying to have it both ways on my crop. Bring the bird closer and include enough of the mist for feeling. I can see now that excluding the upper area was a mistake and hereby retract my vote and agree with Dixie's assessment!

Oops, I just realized you'd posted YOUR OWN crop of that shot. What a dummy I am. I thought you had linked in the second shot. So actually your original vote was for neither version, but a crop half-way between. Now I understand.

Cheers,
-joel

billtaichi

Another vote for the first one, except I might crop just a little off the bottom. But the top one definitely has more of a sense of place to me.

grimace

Dixie wrote:

I tend to lean towards the first one - maybe with just a little of the bottom cropped out.

I agree with Dixie on this one. Nice shot.