Which crop?

which one do you guys prefer

1)

I like the colors more, and the way the color is captured in the ripples.
Also, there is more space around the structure, as you are not as closely cropped.

Like the second one more. The water in the first picture is a bit weird with the ripples on one place and "smooth water" on the other. That makes the picture seem very artificial.

both of you share the point I like about each one...this is so tough lol

#2 more dramatic but agree you lose the sky colors. How about #2 for the top crop but extend the bottom to include the ripples and reflected colors?

ps. Though then the horizon is straight across the middle, but sometimes it is worh breaking a rule.

Number 2 is the best shot. I'd bet my bottom dollar that it comes out as the favorite crop.

The ripples - yes they are cool, yeah they look nice - but with the soft look of #2 there is just one type of water to enjoy and no ripples to distract or take away from it. The water is taken in by the eye so much easier that way.

That's just my opinion.

#1 for me

#1 for me. I really can't find anything interesting in #2; it's just a big, dark blob. The ripples make the shot IMHO.

Voted #1. love the ripples and you don't lose so much of the clouds that seem to be in motion. great work!!

If I may suggest?

Unless you are going with a specific print size, I would take the full width of the 1st crop and then crop the bottom off like in the 2nd. Thus keeping everything that the original had in the sky, and leaving the image more linear.

I love the ripples at the bottom of one, but I feel they are competing for to much attention.

just my 2 cents.

I voted for #1.

I voted for #1 as you have gorgeous ripples in the water with the reflection, the second one is also nice, but #1 is the clear winnner here.


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tanner07 wrote in post #11865741
Number 2 is the best shot. I'd bet my bottom dollar that it comes out as the favorite crop.

The ripples - yes they are cool, yeah they look nice - but with the soft look of #2 there is just one type of water to enjoy and no ripples to distract or take away from it. The water is taken in by the eye so much easier that way.

That's just my opinion.

haha, looks like you are not winning this one just yet

Must say that #2 looks a bit boring compared to #1. I can't tell which one would impress more on someone who didn't get the chance to see both, but I'd go with #1 because of the colours. I would avoid cropping out the yellow in the right side if possible, but as tanner07 said, the waves don't really go together with the rest of the water that well. Might cut them out for a wide crop depending on where I'd use the image had it been my photo.