Two versions of the same photo. Hunter Valley.

Hey everyone. I'm curious 1st off, which version of the two photos you prefer, the horizontal or vertical view. Also, if there are any other critiques and/or comments, I'd appreciate those as well. These were shot with the Canon A520 up in the Hunter Valley, Australia. Thanks!

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Because it's a landscape view, and the area to the right of the trees is still quite photogenic, I'd have to say the first one.

The second one is nice, but it feels too abbreviated.

Vetical is much better IMHO. It accentuates the height of the trees. I like the sky in the second one more too- less blown-out.

Nice photos.

I like the first one better. The angle of the shadows draws you in to the trees. I wonder how these would look in B&W?

I do think a black and white version would look quite nice. I'll have a go at that. As for which orientation is better, you guys aren't helping, hahaha. You're split.

I'm drawn more to the second photo - I like the more complete picture of the trees and less space to the right.

#2 definitely! There's not as much dead space off to the right, it also shows the height of the trees, which I'm guessing is more the focal point, than the mountains on the first one? Basically, the first one, I'm drawn to the mountains, and past the trees, second one, drawn to the trees.

#1 for me.
#2 is vertical so it brings the attention on the vertical trees, which make the composition somewhat predictable.
#1 put the focus on the shadows of the tree. And these are diagonal. So IMHO, there is no comparison between a predictable tree-and-the-background picture and the vibrant composition of #2, which starts with wonderful diagonal shadows, bringing to splendid vertical trees, and finaly this wonderful background where the eye get lost.

#2 can either work if the bottom limit of the trees were higher in the image (at 1/3)

Personally, I like the vertical version best.

Thanks guys. I want to go back and take these photos again, this time with my DSLR. Hopefully the sky wouldn't be as blown out then. I personally am leaning towards the vertical view, but everyone seems to be split.

deletedpenguin wrote in post #4258012
Thanks guys. I want to go back and take these photos again, this time with my DSLR. Hopefully the sky wouldn't be as blown out then. I personally am leaning towards the vertical view, but everyone seems to be split.

Exactly, I'm totally split! I like them both

Good luck when you go back!

dazzlebea wrote in post #4258098
Exactly, I'm totally split! I like them both

Good luck when you go back!

Thanks, hopefully it'll be next month.

These are great Stefan! I like the lead-in with the shadows from the trees. Real nice!

I'm torn between the two, but I would agree about the comment re: B&W. I think these shots really lend themselves to B&W.