Question for the group on two versions of the same image

I've a quick question for you all. Is the full image too busy or ?




Verses

I find my eyes going back and forth to the dead wood in the water, making it distracting to me. Plus, in the full version, the shore divides the image in half where the cropped version respects the rule of thirds a bit better.

So my vote goes for the cropped version. But do keep the red boat in…

Definitely the first one - the subject is clearly the mountain. The second's subject is confusing because of the off-third split in the middle.

Also, GREAT pic! The timing with the red boat/clouds/time of day is perfect.

Yup...I'm with Marcel and jdeg on this one...keep the first cropped one. Great shot.

Agree, cropped version are so much more in balance. And gorgeous picture.

Between the two, I like the top (crop) better for a couple of reasons:

1) The horizon line isn't so centered.
2) That close-up stump/driftwood doesn't try to steal the glory.

but I do like a couple of things about the full-sized version as well.

1) I like the shoreline feel of the closer rocks.
2) You get the full reflection of the mountain, whereas the crop almost chops the reflection off a bit.

I'd LOVE to see a crop where that main mountain is moved over to the left a bit, and we get a bit more of the boat. It would still require the mountain reflection to be chopped off a bit, perhaps, but then it would look intentional rather than a "Wow, I just barely got that to fit" sort of feel. All in all, I'm envious of both the shot and the chance to be in the location to get the shot!!

(of course, all of my opinions are from the barely trained eye and are based on personal preference )

Rule of Thirds: the top one is better. But honestly, I think you can do even better than that.

Whatever you're using to crop, put up a Rule of Thirds overlay and play with this a bit more. I think you can come up with something even better by not having the mountain peak so centered.

Try going in a bit closer on that top one so that the boat is near the intersecting lines on your overlay, right in the middle of the crosshairs. In my opinion, THAT will be your winner.

Top one as is. I'm wondering how the bottom one would look if you reduced the structure in the sky, which is wonderful in the top photo, but competes greatly with what is otherwise a wonderful foreground in the bottom photo? Given the choice of the two I'd take the sky over the lake bed.

I like the second because I always felt like the reflection of the mountain top was cut short. I'm not drawn to the stump. I actually hadn't noticed it until it was mentioned and I had to go back and look.

​I would trim down some of the sky off the top.

Awesome image, many many options for cropping ... but surely there are restraints?

Like aspect ratio; the original will be 2:3 ratio I presume? And your crop is no longer 2:3, more wide-screen. Are you free to experiment? I'm maintaining 2:3 for all my crops at the moment; is that good practice, or too limiting?

Also how much picture to throw away; given enough resolution to achieve the end use. I've had a brief play in PS and the most pleasing result I came up with is almost entirely binning the sky, much less busy, using two-thirds water with the mountains in the top third; this makes the colourful canoeist stand out as more of the subject. But of-course that reduces the resolution by a third or more, I even tried making that a portrait image and it works really well! (All using 2:3) ... Where to draw the line ....?

I agree with Moab Man. I like the second best but find the sky pulls my eyes there and keeps it there. I think less sky to get your thirds and some off the left side to put your mtn top not so in the middle. I think the lovely rocks in the water make for interest and draw your eyes up to your mtn top. I find the driftwood interesting and the canoe adds perspective but then photography is art and open to so many opinions Lovely capture

Pretzel said:

Between the two, I like the top (crop) better for a couple of reasons:

1) The horizon line isn't so centered.
2) That close-up stump/driftwood doesn't try to steal the glory.

but I do like a couple of things about the full-sized version as well.

1) I like the shoreline feel of the closer rocks.
2) You get the full reflection of the mountain, whereas the crop almost chops the reflection off a bit.

I'd LOVE to see a crop where that main mountain is moved over to the left a bit, and we get a bit more of the boat. It would still require the mountain reflection to be chopped off a bit, perhaps, but then it would look intentional rather than a "Wow, I just barely got that to fit" sort of feel. All in all, I'm envious of both the shot and the chance to be in the location to get the shot!!

(of course, all of my opinions are from the barely trained eye and are based on personal preference )

Click to expand...

Here's another version of this view less the boat that shows more of the lake and the reflections in the water of the mountains.




As for the "rule of thirds", that is one rule I believe everyone should learn and then disregard at every opportunity they find. These so-called "rules" of composition were posited as suggestions in an effort to imitate the structure of classical oil paintings of the 18th century but have somehow made their way into being sacrosanct laws of photography. Photography is a medium of its own and while there is no problem with paying homage to the oil based landscapes, photography should never be held hostage to such a narrow frame of reference. I think in the very near future images in which the horizon is smack dab in the middle will begin looking unique and will be doted on as "new" and "fresh" much like the deadpan movement of the late 60's and 70's.

Like almost all good photos it is a matter of personal opinion. The full version has an awful lot to look at and it all looks great but it overwhelms the senses. The thing I keep going back to is the horizon cutting right through the middle. Sorry but it bugs me but I would have a hard time deciding what to cut. The other thing that does not quite look right is the mountain peak dead center. What ever you do though keep the little red boat and lose the dock.

I do agree that rules are great but they are meant to be broken. In this case it is a matter of to much of a great thing. Something needs to go.

Dave_W said:

Here's another version of this view less the boat that shows more of the lake and the reflections in the water of the mountains.

View attachment 51717


As for the "rule of thirds", that is one rule I believe everyone should learn and then disregard at every opportunity they find. These so-called "rules" of composition were posited as suggestions in an effort to imitate the structure of classical oil paintings of the 18th century but have somehow made their way into being sacrosanct laws of photography. Photography is a medium of its own and while there is no problem with paying homage to the oil based landscapes, photography should never be held hostage to such a narrow frame of reference. I think in the very near future images in which the horizon is smack dab in the middle will begin looking unique and will be doted on as "new" and "fresh" much like the deadpan movement of the late 60's and 70's.

Click to expand...

I feel tremendous loss over the missing "little red boat", LOL

FANTASTIC picture here! This one just grabs me... I still get a taste of the reflection and the lake, but I'm now drawn to the mountain and the cloudscape, and I can spend hours picking out the details therein. Before, with the full uncropped scene, the battle between "WOW, that sky!" vs. "WOW, that reflection!" was a bit overwhelming. To me, forcing me to ogle over one or the other leaves me with a mind less overwhelmed. PLUS, I get a sense of the scale with the dock on the outer edge (although I still prefer the boat!!), so it's a win!

...and I agree with your thoughts on "the rules" for the most part. I center a lot of things just because they please my eye in the here and now. Using this current crop as an example, it's only "partially correct" per the rules, but it's enough to create a masterpiece. The horizon is adjusted closer to the rule of thirds, making it not so bad that the main mountain is centered. Now I'm not battling two "centers" but rather just the "center of focus". Does that make sense at all?

I struggle because I don't know the "rules" of informative critique, perhaps? LOL

One of these days, I hope I have the skills to say "Which AMAZING photo do you like best?" like you've got the chance to do!

There is a "rule" saying, centered are good for water reflection images.

For me, centered objects with sorroundings working together, can really draw my eyes in.

I really like the last image too. And awesome creative and different opinions you are writing

despite what everyone else says im for the bottom one, its got more everything in it, I can take my time and explore and it makes me feel like im really there.

Out of the first two photos,#2 is my favorite.I'm at waters edge with the photographer looking out at the mountains.This photo should be on a large calender hanging in my den. lol I don't fancy the other two.They don't grab me and pull me in.

I like the full version best! Like Bechdan said, it feels like your there exploring it yourself sorta! Beautiful shot!

Photo critics remind me of movie critics. Ever notice that some movie critics never have anything nice to say about a movie they just went to see? In my opinion, the reason seems to be it's because it's not really their "kind of movie". Therefor, I feel all critiques should be taken with a grain of salt. Not everyone sees what you see...or saw...through the lens. Oh sure, there are some loose protocols that separate the snap shot from a more artistic shot, but generally speaking, if the photo YOU took is pleasing to you, then that's all that really matters. Differing opinions on composition and lighting and so on are nice, and can be informative and even educational, but I go back to what I said earlier.....not everyone will share your vision of what makes a nice, or even great, picture.
So, in truth, the best you can take from any critique, are the opinions and suggestions of others. Some you may like,some you may not. Also, critiques are freely given, even when not solicited. Here is where I would suggest the development of a thick skin and just roll with it. People mean well, and more often than not, are meant in good faith.

The Rule of Thirds is based on the Golden Ratio, which artists and architects have used for centuries. It's difficult to argue with its application when it comes to art and aesthetics. I agree that most rules of composition can be broken, but the Rule of Thirds is hard to get around, especially when it comes to landscapes. Your photo is textbook example of how it should be used. It would be difficult to prove my point now, but if the originals were shown to 1000 people, and 1000 others were shown the crop above...I'd bet the farm that far more people would notice the boat in this example.

It's a great photo, outstanding. Any version of it would be a wall hanger. But at least in my opinion, this crop is the most eye-pleasing.