Photo critique please

[CIC]

Please let me know your thoughts about the enclosed image.

I have tried to use editing techniques as suggested by Manfred in my previous request for critique.

I have up[loaded two different post-processed versions and I prefer one of those. Though I would like to hold back my preference till I receive the feedbacks of esteemed members here.

Thank you all in advance.

[Chataignier]

Very nice ! A large reflection like this is not the easiest of subjects to compose as there are in effect two centres of interest and the eye moves between them, however I find this works well. I like the shore line and waves adding a diagonal element. The exposure of the clouds and sky is about right and well balanced with the sea and shore. I like it.

[CIC]

Very nice! A large reflection like this is not the easiest of subjects to compose as there are in effect two centres of interest and the eye moves between them, however, I find this works well. I like the shoreline and waves adding a diagonal element. The exposure of the clouds and sky is about right and well balanced with the sea and shore. I like it.

Thank you so much for your kind and considerate words of appreciation. These words act as a huge encouragement for me.

Would you please point out which of the two versions you like more, and if possible the reasoning behind your choice?

[pschlute]

I like the image too. Very dramatic. My preference is for version 2, it is more striking.

[Round Tuit]

I like both images but my preference is also for #2. The larger local contrast bring out more detailed structure in the clouds and the water.

[MrB]

Difficult to answer, because for me the clouds are better in 1 (the grey clouds being too dark in 2), the sky and reflection are rendered better in 2. If they were mine, I would make a composite along those lines. But to each his own.

Philip

[Chataignier]

I agree that the second is more dramatic, but I prefer the first - the subtler colour and contrast is more how I imagine the original scene.

[xpatUSA]

I agree that the second is more dramatic, but I prefer the first - the subtler colour and contrast is more how I imagine the original scene.

I agree. At first glance, the second jumps out but, as I continue to flip back and forth, the first gains over the second.

Not the reason for my preference but, in the second, the waves lose a bit of detail.

[Geoff F]

Second one for me, with more contrast in the clouds.

[royent]

I'm sorry, but for me, when a photograph has the horizon slap bang in the middle, it splits the photograph into two. My eye is drawn either to the upper half or the lower half particularly when there is a dominant centre of interest in each. My preference in this case is for the lower half in the first and the clouds in the second. I find difficulty viewing either photograph as a whole.

[xpatUSA]

I'm sorry, but for me, when a photograph has the horizon slap bang in the middle, it splits the photograph into two. My eye is drawn either to the upper half or the lower half particularly when there is a dominant centre of interest in each. .....

However, it seems in this case that the clouds and their reflection are of equal importance and, with the portrait framing and a sea-level horizon, the split in the middle is almost inevitable.

Land/seascape cognoscenti might have a solution for that dilemma ...

... a Stretch/Squeezer function would be cool ... draw a line though the horizon and pull it down -thereby stretching the sky and squeezing the beach! I would of course pull it down so the sky height is exactly 61.8033... percent of the total height. LOL.

[pschlute]

Are you "Fibbing" again Ted ?

[lovelife65]

I like the compositions, but they feel a pushed a little too far for me. The sky color doesn't look realistic for me, but maybe it's my monitor?

[CIC]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. Though I am sorely missing the input from @Manfred.

I did a second version of the photo only because the black clouds it the left of the first one didn't turn out to my liking.

There was no option but to keep the horizon at the middle as, without either the complete cloud or its reflection, the photo was losing the punch and interest.

@Ted, is it a new idea for image editing program developers? Ha ha!

[CIC]

https://500px.com/photo/1034517162/b...-roy-choudhury

Here is a link to the full-resolution version of the second image.