crop and composition

[OtherMike]

Took these a couple of years ago just playing with them. One is full size the other cropped, mostly interested in comp and crop but anything about these you can school me on I'd appreciate.

http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx29/OtherMikephotos/800X600/IMG_4653c-Copy.jpg

http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx29/OtherMikephotos/800X600/IMG_4653-Copy-Copy.jpg

[lundgrenj]

I think the first is better, the 2nd, uses the tree trunk to lead your eye away from the subject.

[IvaRai]

Yes I too like the 1st one better! You know what the object in the picture is suppose to be. Unlike the second I find myself drifting to the tree line.

[dwarfcow]

i would crop it a little, but not as much as you did...

grid lines for reference to 3rds cropping "rule"
http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae322/kohlerphotography/IMG_4653-Copy-Copy.jpg

making the subject take up less than 2/3rds of the picture, either height, width, or both, i chose both, mainly because i couldn't do anything else given the aspect ratio and subject size, but, the log isn't that distracting now, and the boat seems to draw you in more than the full size.

when i look at the original, my eyes start in the middle of the image and drift down and left to the boat, when i saw your crop i almost have to move my head back to take in the image, with the 2/3'rds crop you just start out looking at the boat and recognizing the image. (it quoted "rule" because its not always going to be the best choice, but most of the time it is.) (this is also why there are grids available in your viewfinder in multiples of 3)

edit: oh hi from just north west of you!

[FELINEDEBOURGES]

I think the second one is way more interesting - showing the story of a dilapidated boat next to a dried up body of water, I can't really see that in the first one.

[OtherMike]

Thank you people for your input it's well received. I'd thank you with individual quotes from your responses but I haven't figured out how to do that here, maybe someone could enlighten me.

Dwarfcow thanks for the "rule of thirds" reminder, I was sort of winging it far and wide on this one, I'll pay more attention.
South Central, where abouts, if you don't mind me asking. I worked a season logging in the South West on Afognak, love that country. I live just south of the border Queen Charlotte Islands, mother Pacific.

[dwarfcow]

Thank you people for your input it's well received. I'd thank you with individual quotes from your responses but I haven't figured out how to do that here, maybe someone could enlighten me.

Dwarfcow thanks for the "rule of thirds" reminder, I was sort of winging it far and wide on this one, I'll pay more attention.
South Central, where abouts, if you don't mind me asking. I worked a season logging in the South West on Afognak, love that country. I live just south of the border Queen Charlotte Islands, mother Pacific.

by a little i ment like 600 miles (wasilla)