Which one is better?

Hi, this is my first post here. I thought I would start by asking everyone's opinion. I tried to take two different shots of a stone at an old graveyard near my home. I wonder which exposure you like better.
1.

I've voted... but I also saw you allow image editing so I did a [very] quick fix of how I think it might look a little better. I prefer this one because there is a balance between the blown out sky and the dark subject. For this image I also prefer the square crop.

Cheers

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Thanks tumana! I do prefer your rendition of it better. I don't have any skills (especially in developing) so I don't know how to put the two pictures together. I have a lot to learn, but what you did is what I wanted in the first place. Now I guess I don't have to choose between the two photos, they have become one.

Cool. I'm glad you liked my rendition of your photo. I think it already had good composition, especially the leaves framing the cross. It just needs proper lighting.

Keep posting.

edit: BTW, by now means am I an expert at post-processing -- or photography for that matter. I just saw something your photo could use. If I can do that I'm sure you can. For now I use Photoshop CS2 but I plan on buying Lightroom.

The first one is much too contrasty in my opinion. However, the composition is fairly nice. Have you thought about how a change in perspective (such as elevating the camera to get the perspective seen by a human, instead of a puppy) would change the relationship between the monument and the vegetation in the background?

The 2nd one is pretty nearly a silhouette, and I much prefer continuous tone - especially for monochrome images.

I went back and tried some more pictures. I took the advice of Robert_Lay and set the tripod at "human eye" level. I borrowed my neighbors flash too. What do you think of this one?

Interesting change - which is better is nonetheless very subjective. The different perspective makes the cross look bigger in relation to the base.

The flash caused some of the highlights to get blown out.

How are you taking these b/w photos? Are you using the Black and White setting on the camera or is it done in post-processing?

If I had to choose one...it would be the first...I will vote now too

tumana wrote in post #3540928
How are you taking these b/w photos? Are you using the Black and White setting on the camera or is it done in post-processing?

Yes, I am using the monochrome setting on my 30d. I don't have a good way of doing any PP. I only have Microsoft photo editor. I am soon going to purchase Lightroom though. I have been told to take color pictures and use photoshop to convert it to b&w. I understand that photoshop does a better job than the camera does?

Rakefet wrote in post #3541599
If I had to choose one...it would be the first...I will vote now too

Thanks for your input Rakefet!

depends on what you want to show. I mean if you want to show us the cross the first one is better. if you want the gloomy sky the second is better. but some PP can do it. you can combine the 2 pictures since they are shoot at the same angle.like what I did here. it is a combination of the 2 photos you took.

ngorkngork wrote in post #3552381
depends on what you want to show. I mean if you want to show us the cross the first one is better. if you want the gloomy sky the second is better. but some PP can do it. you can combine the 2 pictures since they are shoot at the same angle.like what I did here. it is a combination of the 2 photos you took.

IMG NOTICE: [NOT AN IMAGE URL, NOT RENDERED INLINE]

Not sure why, but your red X doesn't show the picture for me.

maybe something like that?
but i still ike number one the best.
shannon

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Robert_Lay wrote in post #3557587
Not sure why, but your red X doesn't show the picture for me.

Yeah Bob messed up with attachements again. Can you please show ,e how to attach pictures properly.