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:
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa19/forjerz/IMG_5543orig.jpg

Cropped:
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa19/forjerz/IMG_5543.jpg

Thanks!
-joel

[Ric Grupe]

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/399386708_GSEga-O.jpg

:D

[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? :D)

[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.

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/399386708_GSEga-O.jpg

:D

[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. :thumb

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

That was my feeling as well. :nod

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.
:D

[jasonstone]

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

[Ric Grupe]

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

You got me, Joel. :D

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! :deal

[kdog]

Thanks for the input, folks. :thumb

You got me, Joel. :D

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! :deal

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]

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.