Which one? Opinions please.

These are two versions of a picture that I'd like to enter into a competition - the problem is, I can't decide which is the better. Can you help please? All opinions gratefully received!

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IMO shoot about 20 more compositions to give yourself more to choose from. I would really pay attention to the way these elements interact. In fact I would spend 15-30 minutes just messing around. Also you might consider natural light. The glasses might look interesting folded up lenses up situated over a bar of music. The glasses are making as much of a statement as the flute is.

Second one, however they both look badly compressed...

The second one is for me, but without the mouthpeice and more of the keys(?) in, that for me is more interesting and says music more. I like your idea!

d

Nice to see some of your work, Roy. The second is my preference. However, I do like the way the glasses are used in the first and as JC has already observed, this element could be further exploited.

jetcode wrote in post #10779517
IMO shoot about 20 more compositions to give yourself more to choose from. I would really pay attention to the way these elements interact. In fact I would spend 15-30 minutes just messing around. Also you might consider natural light. The glasses might look interesting folded up lenses up situated over a bar of music. The glasses are making as much of a statement as the flute is.

+2..

2nd one for sure.

First of all, thanks everybody for your comments.

jetcode wrote in post #10779517
IMO shoot about 20 more compositions to give yourself more to choose from. I would really pay attention to the way these elements interact. In fact I would spend 15-30 minutes just messing around. Also you might consider natural light. The glasses might look interesting folded up lenses up situated over a bar of music. The glasses are making as much of a statement as the flute is.

Thanks jetcode, I'll try that. In fact, the first one was taken by natural light!

fatpoint wrote in post #10779518
Second one, however they both look badly compressed...

I'm not too bothered about that - the original RAWs are OK.

darrylhopkins wrote in post #10779643
The second one is for me, but without the mouthpeice and more of the keys(?) in, that for me is more interesting and says music more. I like your idea!

d

Thanks Darryl. Why do the keys say music more than the mouthpiece?

corkneyfonz wrote in post #10779705
Nice to see some of your work, Roy. The second is my preference. However, I do like the way the glasses are used in the first and as JC has already observed, this element could be further exploited.

Thanks for the kind words cockneyfonz. I'm going to try some more shots with alternative placings for the glasses.

kouman wrote in post #10780215
2nd one for sure.

Thanks kouman - it seems like you are in the majority.

I like the first one because the instrument stands out more.

Do you mean that it's larger in the frame?

Roy,

the actual music kind of takes over the photo for me. Too busy ... unless of course you want me to actually read the music! Your birdseye view shot taxes my eyeballs. Did you consider shooting the same setup from maybe a 30 degree angle using a narrow DOF? Would render much of the music OOF and put the focus clearly on the flute or glasses.

Just an idea.

dave

Good idea Dave. It had crossed my mind, so I'll give it a try.

Well, I've re-shot this trying to incorporate the suggestions made here. Am I getting closer? (There's a third one to follow).

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Here's the third. If this is any good, do you think it would be improved by cropping out the dark background at top and bottom - or not?

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#2 of the repost looks the best to me. Much better composition than the flat top down ones, imo. Not feeling the glasses, but it's not my story to tell.

#1 could be an inkpen or something, the mouthpiece doesn't (for anyone who doesn't know the instrument) make it clear what it is.
#3 I'm looking at it and thinking what are the glasses just laying there for? doesn't seem to add anything to the story.