Crop...or not

[navydoc]

This is a wide view of a local farm field done using hdr. I left a few tree branches visible on the left thinking it would help give the photo some depth. Does it work or is it a distraction?

http://glewis.us/images/web_hsf/hsf6_pp.jpg

[Tim Kostka]

You need more branches. Right now it's sort of distracting and the cropped picture would look better.

Also, the fence at the bottom is a bit distracting as you can't see its base. It seems kind of disconnected from the rest of the picture.

[deathcake]

I like the idea but I think it would work better if the branches were bigger. As it is, they are a bit distracting so i say crop.

[navydoc]

That was pretty much what I had thought too. Thanks for confirming for me. Here's the same shot with both the branches and fence cropped.

Better?

[Barb W]

much better IMO

[deathcake]

^ Nice crop. Good work on the HDR also, easy to overdo it but I think this works well.

[navydoc]

Thanks. By the way, that structure in the background is a grandstand. I think it must have been used for auctions since this is a place called the Hemet Stock Farm.

http://glewis.us/images/web_hsf/hsf4_ppcu.jpg

[deathcake]

I thought that was crop for a moment, was about to sell my soul for 7D :lol:

Nice shot of the structure, looks interesting and still in good condition.

[disjecta]

I know you are only asking advice on the crop but I think the photograph is way over-sharpened. It's hard for me to relate to what I'm looking at because there is such a severe disconnect where the sky meets the horizon because of the sharpness.

[ianh]

I wouldn't necessarily crop the fence but the branches need to go, for sure. While a little close, the fence does an adequate job at providing the depth you're looking for.

[FelixDeSouze]

Lovely image, I love the clouds.. Crop is much better

[JimMcrae]

I agree with Felix. It's got a lovely 3d effect and what a sky! I also prefer the crop.

[jsimcox]

I agree on the cropping, lose the branches, my eye now easily follows the brown fence into the centre of the image.
On another point the HDR is overcooked in my opinion, see the tops of the trees on the right, I always think that subtlety is the difference images that last over time..

[GorgeShooter]

I'd crop with the rule of thirds in mind and get rid of the tree limbs on the left.

[windpig]

I think the fence would work if it was dark. I like the crop.

[greku69]

yes I like the crop version from first shot, without this branches on left, but you con try remove them insted of using crop...
:)

[navydoc]

Thanks again for all the comments and suggestions. I may wind up leaving in the fence at the bottom, or at least a part of it and clone or crop the branches on the left out.

Regarding the trees on the right being "overcooked". I'm not sure what that means. Do you mean there is some haloing in that area? I don't see anything there but the tops of trees and clouds. Of course, I'll be 65 next month and my eyesight ain't what it used to be.

Is this the area that's "overcooked" and if so, would you explain what that means?

Thanks.

[ianh]

Yes, and basically those leaves (mostly toward the bottom right) are giving off a sort of other-worldly glow. If you can reduce that, perhaps by blending multiple HDRs in Photoshop (high intensity sky, low intensity trees), it would look a lot better.

[navydoc]

Thanks. I guess I need to get my eyes calibrated. I thought that was just the differences in light and dark from the light passing through the clouds.

[ianh]

It could be, but the HDR process usually exacerbates the highlight areas, and when you have all that detail so clustered together, it can get kinda messy. What's the original look like?