Which crop ?

[escaladieu]

Can't decide

[Dave Humphries]

Oooh, very difficult question Jeff,

On balance, #1, but I would actually consider either;
a crop losing 5% off the right hand edge; to remove the last sunlit peak and not 'end' with such a low tree line height
a crop losing the right hand of the two foreground bushes - but then I wonder if there's anything to the left to see (to try to make it less 'square')

The clouds look smeared by a long exposure, but the EXIF says 1/100s, so that must just be how they were I guess.

Not sure if that helps,

[dubaiphil]

Either would benefit from cloning out the tops of the clipped trees on the bottom of the frame. Then you have 2 good crops.

[Bobobird]

On balance I would say #1.

[Geoff F]

I suppose it depends on the size of the photo frame.

Apart from that, I think the first one might have some confliction between the foreground and background with both competing for attention.

With the second image there is no doubt that the mountain is the centre of attention. But I agree that the tops of trees near the bottom edge could be cloned out.

[tbob]

My vote if for number 1, minus the intrusive tree top on the lower edge. I feel you get even more three dimensional space by including the lone tree and pasture. I quite like the low cloud/tree interaction and the sloping pasture folds in the ground

The second is quite good, just doesn't grab me to quite the same extent; it really is a matter of aesthetics and taste.

[Mike Buckley]

Nice to have two such glorious images that can be made even better by following the great suggestions about the trees at the bottom of the frame.

When I saw the first crop, my immediate thought was that the lower line of mist was a little distracting. When I then reviewed the second image, I immediately liked that the same line of mist is positioned differently relative to the frame. So, if I absolutely had to make a choice, I would go with the second crop.

Trevor: Check out your post again, as your two paragraphs seem to contradict each other. I've been there and done that.

[ktuli]

Jeff,

I have to vote for #2 as well. It just seems to focus the attention more directly than the first.

- Bill

PS: You should turn on an actual poll with your post so you can easily collect and tally the votes. Like my previous crop poll here - Which crop is best?

[Andrew1]

I'm on the wagon for #2 with the tree tops at the bottom cloned out. Another great one Jeff.

[tbob]

Trevor: Check out your post again, as your two paragraphs seem to contradict each other. I've been there and done that.

Thanks Mike; At six am I have problems retaining more than one item in my brain, cannot type and count. Later in the day, I can count but can't tupe.

[Mike Buckley]

Later in the day, I can count but can't tupe.

I'm wit you on that point.

[ggt]

#1 , I love the perspective.

[pnodrog]

What a great dilemma - do you use an image with a wonderful foreground to background progression but the interest on the right-hand side is a bit dominant or use the image that is more balanced due to the cropping but miss out on a bit of the sense of depth. If I was pushed into a corner I would go for #2 with the bit of suggested cloning (envelope tree tops in mist?).

Just looked at #1 again and I wonder if severely toning down the bright grass in the bottom right corner would end up giving you the best of both?

[kdoc856]

I'm going with #1, Jeff. I really like the visual depth that the inclusion of the foreground adds, and my personal preference generally runs toward not cropping trees in their middle, and leaving them to arise from the unseen. I also like the golden tone in the RLC duplicating that of the the tree tops. I dont see it as a distraction from the primary element-the mountains- as the mountains are so strong an element that it's not a competition, but an additional element to feast our eyes upon

[arith]

top the size it is; bottom much much bigger than a computer display.

[Mike Buckley]

After "living" with both images during several reviews, I have now concluded that the premise of the thread is all wrong; there should not be a question of which crop to use. Instead, use both crops, as both are stunning.

[rawill]

From a newbie.
If I never saw the first one I would like the second one.
However, I like the first one but would try to clone out the middle tree.
To my eye it intrudes a bit much, but like everyone else says, great shots

[escaladieu]

Thanks everyone, I still can't decide, so I'm going with both as suggested