Opinions - Which crop?

[rgs]

Here's a shot from last weekend at Beaver's Bend SP in SE Oklahoma.

I'm not sure whether to use the full frame
[attachment=3925:attachment]

or cropped version
[attachment=3926:attachment]

I value the input of members of the forum. Comments please. Thanks.

RGS

[fike]

Here's a shot from last weekend at Beaver's Ben in SE Oklahoma.

I'm not sure whether to use the full frame
[attachment=3925:attachment]

or cropped version
[attachment=3926:attachment]

I value the input of members of the forum. Comments please. Thanks.

RGS
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=154376\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Both crops are fine with me, but my honest opinion is that the image is way too contrasty, the color balance looks off, and there is too much darkness overall.   I can't get past the color to evaluate the crops.  You may want to try some local levels adjustments using masks so that you can separate the adjustments in the water (where the levels and color looks fine) from the trees and background.

I might consider cropping the small pile of rocks in the lower right corner.

[button]

Richard, you might want to try a tighter crop using the ratio of the first image.  I also have to agree that there is a bit too much contrast.  Can you repost a sample with these modifications?

John

[blansky]

I like the first one. And I'd keep the color and contrast the way it is. It has a sort of surreal look to it and trying to make it "normal", in my opinion makes it too much of an everyday shot.

Who said that scenes had to look the way the were in "reality". Obviously water doesn't look like that so the overall look matches the nonreality of the water.

If you like the look, then keep it.


Michael

[rgs]

Here's the original scan. There was a real richness to the color in the scene that is missing from the original scan that I was trying to get back but I'm working away from my office and my laptop display is not too useful when it comes to color balance so I'll apologize for the contrast in the first post.

My first impulse was to crop the road from the upper left area. That's where the wide crop came from but I can't decide which I like better. I wondered about the lower edge as well so the comment about the pile of rocks was good.


[attachment=3929:attachment]

And another crop. I think I might like this one best.
[attachment=3930:attachment]


RGS

[fike]

Here are two alternate versions.  I think the image is nice, but taking it much farther is probably not going to get a much better image. I even think my version is a bit too punched up.  I wouldn't worry about the road. I hadn't noticed it until you pointed it out.

Black and white might work for this image too.

[jd1566]

I thought I would prefer the cropped version, but looking at the image, the point of interest seems the whole scene, not just the running water.  A cropped version would accentuate the water, but I get the feeling the photograph is about the place, not just the water.  The glistening tree trunks create a frame for the water. SO, I'll have to go with the uncropped version.

[dobson]

I like elements of both crops. Having better view of the surrounding trees gives a good feel for the forest. My eye did go straight to the road, however. I'm not sure if it's just me or not; but to me, the road detracts from the natural feeling of the photo.

[dobson]

On second thought; I think the reason the road bothers me is that it's a perfectly horizontal structure where I don't expect one to be. I know this doesn't help your dilemma much, I'm just trying to figure it out for myself.