Below are two crops of the same image. I would appreciate comments - both which crop you believe works best, and thoughts on the shot overall. I think I prefer the second - but then at times I reconsider....

Thanks for your help everyone.

Dave





or this crop

Dave:

I like both, but I definitely like the crop on the second one better too. It gives more prominence to the peak in the background, which I think is the focal point of the picture. The tree on the hillside on the left in the first one is a little distracting to me.

In addition, I don't know if you adjusted anything besides the crop, but to my eyes, the lighting in the second shot seems different. Maybe the reddish dirt on the hillside influences my perception, but the first shot seems to have a slight magenta cast to it.

I hope you don't mind but I had to see them side by side in order to compare. I really prefer the horizontal not cropped image. I think it allows me to feel the expanse of the scene. It is truly a lovely image.

Great shots , I know what you mean I often have the same problem . I think it just boils down to personal preference.
It seams to me the cacti bushes have a little better light than the cropped version. When my eyes wander around on the image I like the fact of seeing the small tree in the distance , when this image is printed up to about 24x36 all these details will be most important to absorb all that is taking place in this shot . Wonderful capture
Regards Randall

Randall, Peggy Sue and Jim,

Thanks for the comments and different perspectives. I think I will print a midsize of both and see which crop I prefer.

I did make one small difference in the post processing between the two - using ACR I brightened the exposure slider slightly on the full frame version to get the histogram to extend to the end. It was a minor adjustment that I didn't think would be noticed.

Thanks again for the help.
Dave

i like the square one best, I also would like to see more color in the lower 2/3 of the image. . . .

Im not sure what you did with those two shots, but one has a larger scale, so not only did the crop change, but so did the scale making the mountain bigger in the cropped shot. That will affect the outcome of the poll. I think i like the cropped one best (as a rule, I dont like square format much anymore - I'm not against it, it has it's place, but I just for some reason and not big on it even though I publish square formats) because it takes me sooner to the mountain and keeps me in the frame longer. . .

Ok, looked at your shot and I have a proposed crop....also did a little PP...kinda went hog wild with the colors...but couldnt help it...lol.

Your Origonal:


My Crop:


The composition was not properly balanced at the bottom which was throwing off the top side. You started to address this with the square crop, but then you lost some detail at the top. The only problem with my crop now is the chopped cacti on the lower right hand corner.

Roman

Thanks Roman and Tony,

I was having a hard time identifying what it was I did not like about the crop, and Roman's crop helped me see it.

I think I will also play with colors a bit more. Thanks again for all the help everyone.
Dave

Dave...you have gotten a lot of comments here in my gallery..... Here on my web page.

Just wanted you to see the comments on your work.

Roman

Thanks for pointing that out to me Roman - I appreciate it.

I do wish my Zenfolio site would allow comments...