Orange Flower

[Chris Calohan]

[francois]

Chris,
I like the vivid colors but I'm having trouble to find some balance. So, for me, it's an interesting image and I'd need more time to make up my mind.

[Chris Calohan]

I also did this as a square crop with some additional editing. See if this works better for you, Francois.

[louoates]

For me, closer is almost always better. My vote is for the square view.

[Richowens]

 
 I find that most of my flower shots wind up cropped square.

 Nicely done Chris.

 Rich

[francois]

I also did this as a square crop with some additional editing. See if this works better for you, Francois.

Yes, Chris, the square crop works very well for me. It's simpler and cleaner!

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Add my vote for the square version.

[fike]

I like the square one better--not because the composition is particularly suited to a square crop, but because it decreases the negative area that lacks any reinforcing meaning to the general image. There are probably other crops that aren't 1:1 that could be nice with this one too--maybe a portrait 4:3 or 5:4. Heck as long as you get rid of the empty space on the edges, even a landscape crop looks good.

[amolitor]

Huh?

The square version is a picture of a flower.

The original is a set of crossing lines, leading the eye to and supporting a central subject, which happens to be a flower. It's much much better.

[Tonysx]

I'm with Amolitor on this one. Not necessarily better but more interesting than the square version

[nemo295]

I'm inclined to go with the square one.

[Chris Calohan]

The idea behind the first presentation was to break a few rules, allowing the stems to lead the eye to the center, the orange flower. I placed the longest leading stem on the bottom 1/3 quadrant and midpoint of the flower in the upper third. I still think there is merit to that thought pursuit but I think Fike's suggestion of eliminating the dead space in a rectangular format could be the best of both worlds. I'll sit on this for another week or so and have a later looksee.
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and comments.