Which one works better?

[RogerCook]

1


2

[Geoff F]

Second one works best for me.

Just a little too much water below the bridge in the first image, so somehow the composition balance doesn't appear quite right.

One slight thought. On the outer sides of the bridge uprights there are very small red objects which I would prefer to clone away; but it doesn't make that much difference.

[Shadowman]

2nd one for me, fewer dark voids.

[Mike Buckley]

The light is so much more appealing to me in the first one that I would go with that one but would crop it at the bottom more like the second one.

[bnnrcn]

I prefer #1 as is, I like the shapes and patterns. The triangular reflection in the water adds to the composition

[Manfred M]

I prefer #1 as well. Less distractions in vertical / portrait orientation.

[Sam W]

#1 for me...vertical complements bridge supports.

[DanK]

#1 for me, for the reasons others gave. I would crop a bit from the bottom, but not much--maybe 3 or 4 times the height of your watermark.

[RogerCook]

Thanks. Looks like #1 might be the winner (with a slight crop).

[RogerCook]

Here's #1 cropped.

[dem]

Thanks. Looks like #1 might be the winner (with a slight crop).

+1 to that. The bridge dominates in #2 and feels rather heavy: the supports appear too small due to perspective distortion (shorter focal length?).

[Dave Humphries]

#2 for me Roger, but - I am viewing in LyteBox, fairly close to a 23" monitor. Using this viewpoint, with the bridge literally going above my head, it makes me a part of the scene - and I'm sure that's very relevant to why I chose it.

Conversely - if viewed on a smaller screen size and/or at a greater distance; the first (or third) is preferred.


Others might like to try the experiment of changing their viewpoint to see if their opinion changes?

[pnodrog]

It was #2 for me until you cropped number #1 now a bit of a tie for me.

P.S. Had another look and #2 still leads very slightly. I like the dominance of the bridge - makes me feel I need to duck.

[IzzieK]

#1 for me still...with the edit, I think I prefer a little bit more cropping at the bottom...

Dave...you have a vivid imagination...I felt giddy with the experiment you suggested...or tired because of sandbagging last night...whichever way...

[Dave A]

My preference would be the landscape orientation.

Dave

[Wavelength]

How the bottom part of the bridge reflects in water is one of the key subject in this image and doubtless one gets more of it in the first image. Probably that gives an additional plus point fort the portrait orientation. At the same time the heaviness of the construction is more felt in the landscape mode. Thus both images have their own significance and both are keepers

[NorthernFocus]

This thread is a good lesson for all in the significance of composition. Same scene and two radically different images. Thanks for posting. FWIW the final cropped version of the vertical does it for me.

[Rebellion]

My preference would be the #1

[stickinit]

I'm just going to jump in here, hi Roger! My personal preference is your first posted photo, I really like the leading lines and how they follow through compared to the second photo, the tone seems to be a little deeper which makes me more compelled to choose the first picture though they are fairly similar.

[Urbanflyer]

#1. The portrait orientation seems to emphasize the length of the bridge as it extends away from the viewer and, for me, that is the story here.