Lotus Temple Reshoot

[fotugraphy]

Hi, going forward on my photography venture I stopped and clicked another shot. Can you please review it and let me know what exactly is missing for it to make it much better?

It is an image of the lotus temple. Me and my friends went for a shoot there in December, 2013 but they provided us only 15 min to use the tripod. So, I decided to challenge myself for the shot which i took in September 2013, to check if i have improved in terms of Composition and processing. If yes, then how much.

With the latest shot i used grill as a leading element (Curve) towards the lotus temple abstract.

Composition Difference Time: 2 months approx (Sep, 2013 to Dec, 2013)
Processing Difference Time: 4 months approx (Sep, 2013 to Feb, 2013)

Thank You

PS : Please click on the image for lightbox screen view (Highly recommended)


Latest Shot took in December, 2013 but Processed 2 days back: (HDR EV Range: -2 0 +1)
Lens : Tokina 11-15mm at 16mm



Old Shot took and processed in September, 2013: (HDR EV Range: -2 0 +2 where milky way is a composite).
Lens : Sony Kit Lens 18-55mm at 18mm

[Downrigger]

I look at images like these and don't feel particularly qualified to judge. They are both very good. The two are quite different, and accomplish different things, so it is, to me, an apples and oranges comparison. The top is about geometry - shapes and lines lit bright and strong and very effective in that regard. The one below is about texture and structure, and even the sky is pulled into that emphasis and it too works extremely well.
Compositionally they are both a little bit challenged and for both I would seek another solution: the top one gives almost a quarter of its area to the green reflecting water - which I think is a lot, and the bottom gives almost a quarter of its area to the stone walk with I also think seems like a lot. Take the bottom fifth or so off with a crop on either, and to my eye they are both a bit better balanced, but in the case of the top one you lose the nice corner leading line whereas in the bottom one you handily drop the leading line into the corner.
Again - I'd be pleased with either, and especially both.

[bnnrcn]

I like the shot in December,it seems really good to me because of its clarity and nice geometric composition

[fotugraphy]

I look at images like these and don't feel particularly qualified to judge. They are both very good. The two are quite different, and accomplish different things, so it is, to me, an apples and oranges comparison. The top is about geometry - shapes and lines lit bright and strong and very effective in that regard. The one below is about texture and structure, and even the sky is pulled into that emphasis and it too works extremely well.
Compositionally they are both a little bit challenged and for both I would seek another solution: the top one gives almost a quarter of its area to the green reflecting water - which I think is a lot, and the bottom gives almost a quarter of its area to the stone walk with I also think seems like a lot. Take the bottom fifth or so off with a crop on either, and to my eye they are both a bit better balanced, but in the case of the top one you lose the nice corner leading line whereas in the bottom one you handily drop the leading line into the corner.
Again - I'd be pleased with either, and especially both.

Thanks a lot for your valuable review and wonderful comparison. That is a learning curve for me. Really appreciated When i looked at the bottom image since last month, I always thought of cropping it just as suggested.

[Downrigger]

Thanks a lot

My pleasure since it is fun to think about such nice work - about why it works. But here's what's going to happen. You'll get lots of other feedback, and when it's all in it will add to naught and you'll be thrown back into reliance on your own vision, just a little more elaborated than before... as it should be.

[Shadowman]

Both are nice, I like that different viewpoints were used in each.

[fotugraphy]

I like the shot in December,it seems really good to me because of its clarity and nice geometric composition

Thanks a lot for your valuable review and sharing your views

[fotugraphy]

My pleasure since it is fun to think about such nice work - about why it works. But here's what's going to happen. You'll get lots of other feedback, and when it's all in it will add to naught and you'll be thrown back into reliance on your own vision, just a little more elaborated than before... as it should be.

Really appreciated and it really inspired me a lot.

[fotugraphy]

Both are nice, I like that different viewpoints were used in each.

thanks a lot for your kind review and for sharing your views

[dje]

Hi Raj

These are both wonderful images, each with their own "mood". Excellent photography.

Dave

[Stagecoach]

Both very nice interpretations of the scene Raj.

Grahame

[fotugraphy]

Hi Raj

These are both wonderful images, each with their own "mood". Excellent photography.

Dave

Thanks a lot for your valuable review and for your kind words

[fotugraphy]

Both very nice interpretations of the scene Raj.

Grahame

thanks a lot for your valuable review and for sharing your views

[Wavelength]

Excellent images

[fotugraphy]

Excellent images

Thanks a lot for your kind review and appreciation

[John 2]

Hi Raj, if you like these (as you should - and I do) then you have succeeded. Excellent use of the HDR technique. If you want comment, my only suggestion would be to crop a small amount from the top of each to move the focal point (where all the lines meet) more off centre and you could take down the reflected highlights from the flood lighting slightly in the December version. But really good work in any event.

[fotugraphy]

Hi Raj, if you like these (as you should - and I do) then you have succeeded. Excellent use of the HDR technique. If you want comment, my only suggestion would be to crop a small amount from the top of each to move the focal point (where all the lines meet) more off centre and you could take down the reflected highlights from the flood lighting slightly in the December version. But really good work in any event.

Thanks a lot for your valuable review and feedback. I will surely crop the image as suggested to change the focal point