...and everybody is puzzled, and dont have the SLIGHTEST idea...
Russ,
"has", not "have". I mistyped. I was objecting to these "everybodys", not to me in the last part of the sentence. Maybe re-read me with that in mind.
Regarding the image lets just say, I find the foreground is not THAT strong, its possible to miss the composition. At least I missed it in the first place, it was not obvious, I realized it only later. Not do put it down, I do think its beautiful, while a bit over-prcessed, esp. the blacks wich are a tad too deep for my taste.
My suggestion also was also a bit sloppy formulated (by the way I didnt suggest to cut 3 quarters of the bottom). Lets just say I see a potentially totally different crop in landscape orientation wich also includes parts wich are not in this shot.
But this is all irrelevant to the argument I want to make: For me its about openly expressing the idea I get when I see something, and I cant help, I just feel hindered in this when I read comments like the one you wrote. You probably wonder about that, so let me explain that further, starting indirectly with this image, but also critique in general:
I dont find it acceptable to rule out cropping (or whatever other alteration) only with the argument that the image is somehow complete. Who determines that? Even if we talked about a Rembrandt we could still point at parts of images and say: Hey, that could stand alone on itself too. I mean thats obvious.
Concerning this image specifically here: purely on the words of your first answer, I agree 100%! I also dont see how it can be improved "just by cropping". But my, or anyones agreement means nothing, is irrelevant, since anyone could come up with a way to make it better. Who knows? How can I, or you, or anyone know? Or maybe someone makes a very slight alteration of the crop here wich doesnt change the composition but makes a subtle difference?
So from this, I conclude it is always legitimate to make different suggestions, also regarding crops, for a finished, complete image, for any image. Denying this just rules out something in my eyes. And thats what I dont like about your comment. You see, after reading this first comment I feel I am in position where I need to defend why I make suggestions or get ridiculed. (Not specifically by you, but by the general opionion) But of course thats my thing, a suggestion always stays a suggestion no matter what.
However, having said all this, I must add, I see why you say what you say, what you want to achieve. You just want to avoid these unproductive discussions wich arise quite often. OI say, the more beginners, the more bad advice, no one can change this. Its determined by the kind of people who visit the site. A comparisation: Compared with german dslr-forum where I come from LL is a heavens place. The short time here was more useful to me than the 2 years there. Principal problems being basically the same, but more competent people here, also the average age is higher, to name just two reasons. So this makes a difference, but it is nothing we may influence. Thats my opinion.
So to end this (got much longer than I wanted it to be!) I will repeat what I said in my last post. "warning" others by stating the OWN OPINION, e.g. "dont crop it, it ruins the image!" (and ideally with a because of...) is totally ok for me, is the basis for everything. But extending this argument to "dont listen to the others!" is, for the reasons I outlined, not acceptable, well at least not a solution for me.
With the right words you can say everything, with the wrong words, nothing.
Christian