Leaves and Light

Looking through the side of an ivy-clad arch in the direction of the evening sun. Differently processed images from the same DNG file. Do you prefer the darker or the lighter one? And why?

Any other thoughts and comments also welcome, as usual.

K3iii + F 135mm @ f2.8.

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Steve

Hmmm, is it allowed to like both??

The darker one appeals because of the intensity of the colour. It also has a 'cooler' feel, i.e. shaded from the direct sun, which I like.

The lighter one appeals because I can see more of the physical structure of the leaves, albeit the leaf on the right hand side being out of focus is causing my vision to be little distracted; the lower contrast of the darker image doesn't to this to me.

Please consider that this comment is being written late on a Sunday evening and therefore it may not make much sense

Darker one for me. Very nice.

^^^^^ I'm with 'im

It makes the highlights stand our more.

Darker for me...prefer the greater contrast.

Darker for me, the depth of colour and shade make for a better image (to my eyes)

Interesting. Very interesting. The version you've all gone for - the darker one - is what it felt like to me at the time and what I was aiming to get in the photo. The other version - the lighter one - is closer to what it actually looked like to the naked eye. If you'd all gone for the lighter one, I'd now be questioning my artistic tastes!

Steve