Trouble deciding which one.

[rbiemer]

Folks,
I'm having a bit of trouble deciding which version of this photo I prefer. Usually, I can not look at my stuff for a while then come back to it and quickly know which one I prefer. Not this time.
So, any preferences?

Or?

Thanks!
Rob

 

[FrankS]

I like the first one more because there is more context/information.

 

[david.elliott]

I prefer the second one because the snow in the first bothers me. I think I would prefer the first if it were cropped to not include the snow.

Nice photo either way though. Beautiful light.

 

[rbiemer]

David and Frank: that is my dilemma, I did try just cropping out the snow (actually it's a frozen lake) at the bottom but really did not like the proportions of the image that way. I may try dodging the area a bit and see how that looks...

Rob

 

[Holmz]

Neither...

I like the larger context one better, except that the out of focus area is about the whole scene (Just the branch in focus), so it felt disturbing (like a scene from a horror movie - you know something is out there you just don't know what it is).

This is very interesting, because usually an out of focus branch in the foreground is pleasing.
Just switching the focus, is psychologically much different (for me anyhow).

 

[Trius]

Of the two, I'm with Frank.

 

[rbiemer]

Holmz, I did shoot the scene both ways, the sunlight looks very much the same in both but throwing the branch out of focus made the shot less interesting to me. I hadn't thought about the photo having scary implications--in fact I have another shot that I like but other folks have said it "looks scary". I think it is bright, the "lake fog" was burning off pretty quickly that morning before another lovely hot day. That shot is here:
Steaming Lake

I do agree with you that changing the focus of the photo in this thread does dramatically change the feel of this image.

Earl, thanks for your choice. Sometimes I feel like I'm working in a vacuum with my hobby and the connections I've made here are very helpful to avoid that!
Rob