Which is better?

[rbiemer]

Folks,
I usually don't have this issue but I have two versions of the same negative and I can't quite decide betwen the two.
So, I'm attaching both to this post in hopes that I'll get some opinions.
Aside from the cropping, minimal levels adjustments and unsharp masking were applied.
I'm pretty thick skinned so don't worry about hurting my feelings and please tell me what you think (well, about the photo.😀 )!
Thanks,
Rob

 

[biomed]

Rob,
I looked at both images several times and prefer the first one. There is a little more of the environment included. It has a more organic look to me. It just appeals to me a little more than the other image. I know this is very subjective.

Mike

 

[shadowfox]

The first one, composition is more balanced. And I will venture that making it a B&W picture with a little bit of bump in contrast will enhance the picture tremendously.

 

[biomed]

The first one, composition is more balanced. And I will venture that making it a B&W picture with a little bit of bump in contrast will enhance the picture tremendously.

I agree with shadowfox, this would be a good in B&W.

 

[rbiemer]

Thanks!
My intent with the crop is/was to concentrate on the difference of the "natural"[the rocks] and the "artificial"[the basket]. But I've been going back and forth about whether the crop is needed to accomplish that...I do like the shadows along the bottom edges of the rocks that are in the uncropped...
Will, I tried geting a decent looking BW image and really disliked all of the three or four variations I tried.
On a workflow issue--I tried this both ways (not to any good effect)--bump the contrast, then convert to BW or convert, then adjust contrast?
Rob
EDIT: Mike, I wasn't ignoring you; didn't see your second response 'til I posted this.

 

[Jocko]

For what it's worth, Rob, I too prefer the first: I think that the increased context actually emphasises the contrast you are seeking, stressing the delicacy of the net.

Cheers, Ian

 

[oscroft]

Yep, the first one for me too. And I also like the idea of making it B&W and increasing the contrast a bit.

 

[MickH]

Rob, I have to chime in with the other guys, the shot on the left does look better both in composition and it looks more "contrasty", the shadows are deeper and there seems to be more texture all round.

Mick

 

[rbiemer]

OK, uncropped is the consensus.
Still not sure about the BW, though. And that may be more a question of my GIMP skills than anything else.
This is my best BW version of it. The basket/net mostly disappears.
Rob

 

[shadowfox]

Rob, I hope you don't mind me tweaking around with your image. I use your uncropped original, and treat it as if it's my own image and my goal is to get a good b&w version.

First I notice that no matter what I did the yellowish moss on the big rock will either blow up the highlight, or I have to drop the contrast to oblivion. Either way, it's my first obstacle because it steals the attention from the basket.

So I apply a gradient black to white and overlay it with the image. It darkens the big rock and allows me to adjust the left side of the image so the basket doesn't dissapear. See the attached result. At least to me, the basket doesn't "dissapear" anymore.

Edit: I may have gone overboard with the highlight on the top left rock, but it didn't have to.

Note that this is not necessary the better result, it's just illustrating how I would attack this problem.

 

[rbiemer]

Will,
Don't mind a bit.
Your version looks better than my BW version but I have to say, I think I still like the color version better.
I think the muted/shade colors I got on the film just don't lend them selves to BW and I am hoping that I can shoot this again with some BW film next spring when I go back to work there.
But I am going to try something else: Taking your version and mine, playing with the transparency of both, making each version a layer, and then flattening the stack to see if I can get some thing OK from that.
This is going to take a little time, so I'll post what I get later.
Rob

 

[rbiemer]

Will,
Here is the combined version of your BW and mine. I used one as the base layer and the other at about 30% transparency as a second layer then flattened them to get this.
Rob

 

[shadowfox]

That's better, but I know you can get something even better the next time you shoot it with B&W straight on.

 

[rbiemer]

Will,
I expect that the basket thing will still be where it has been for the last few years--I asked my boss what it was and she said words to the effect of "I'm not sure, I think it's for scooping baitfish" and that it's been here since she started working there(6 or 7 years ago). So I hope to have another go at it.
This kind of scene is why I miss Techpan...I'd have the choice of almost grainless or very high contrast.
Thanks for the time you put into this!
Rob