Which is better?

I am trying to put some images together for an autumn photo contest that I'll be entering in just over a week. Can you tell me which of these images you like better?

"Alone"

MIME changed to 'text/html' | Content warning: script

MIME changed to 'text/html' | Content warning: script

I much prefer the first one;

Stronger composition;
better Contrast;
more 'autumn', and less 'leaf' ...

Cheers,
Pete

I like the first one much more

manncer

definately #1

... first one

What they said ^

The first one tells a story, whereas the second one focuses on the leaf.

..one of those cases where bigger is not better....

I agree with everyone else... #1

#2!!!!!!

just kidding, of course.

go with the first one.

better at what? Getting compliments? If so, then what everyone else said. If by "better" you mean "communicates what you intended," then I would need to know what you intended to communicate...

I wish I knew. Each of them does communicate something very different. As I mentioned at the top, I am trying to choose images for a very demanding autumn photo contest but there is no explanation given of what they are exactly looking for. I guess the question is which is aesthetically more pleasing to other photographers?

sorry--should have read more carefully. or, better yet, i should have actually read your comment!

for a contest with a broad criterion like "autumn," I'd go with the most popular photo.