Which crop?

"I am in two minds as to whether the foreground giving context adds to the image or if a more abstract approach of the turbines alone is stronger. Give it a go and see what you think."
This is the judges comment on my entry in last weeks comp. I've had a go and I can't make up my mind. What do you think?

As entered



First try



Second try

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Barrie
Too Old To Die Young

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/barrieforbes
https://www.flickr.com/photos/189482630@N03/

Barrie - the last one works for me. It has a "sketch" feel about it, making it a bit more pleasing on the eye. I reckon it wouldn't be out of place on a cd cover.

Whilst I like the first photo I love that last one. It has an ethereal feel to it.
The building draws the eye too much in the original I think, and the second one doesn't do much for me at all. The square crop just works.

Yes, the last one. It just goes to show what a difference small tweaks to the composition can make.

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Best regards, John

Nope, the first one. You need to anchor those windmills: they look odd floating in mid-air. But there again, John has probably forgotten more about photography than I'll ever know...

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Best wishes,

Andrew

"These places mean something and it's the job of a photographer to figure-out what the hell it is."
Robert Adams
"The camera doesn't make a bit of difference.  All of them can record what you are seeing.  But, you have to SEE."
Ernst Hass
My website: http://www.ephotozine.com/user/bwlchmawr-199050 http://s927.photobucket.com/home/ADC3440/index
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78898196@N05

yup defiantly the last one.

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FF: Pentax K-1, D-FA* 70-200, D-FA 24-70, D-FA 100, D-FA 28-105, FA 77, FA 43
APSC: K3, K5, DA*50-135, DA*300, Sigma 17-50, Sigma 10-20, 18-55mm, DA 55-300mm, DA35, 1.4TC
4/3: Q10, Q, 01, 02, 06
Fuji XT1, XF18-55, XF27

Last one for me too

I didn't there was much wrong with the original! But of the two crops - definitely the second one, I think the square format works really well.

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K-5iiS; K-r; ME Super; ME; DA* 16-50 f2.8; DA 18-135 WR; DA 55-300 WR; HD DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited; FA 50mm f1.4; A50mm f1.7; DAL 18-55mm; M40mm f2.8; + assorted non-Pentax lenses

My Flikr Page link

Completely agree.

I like the first one... but I think it would need even more foreground for balance. The crops just too tight on the wall and building.

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Tim

Some of my vaguely better stuff

I agree with Andrew, there's no doubt at all in my mind Barrie. No 1, which you entered in the competition, is outstanding. The farm buildings give it context, but perhaps my choice is based on my love of juxtapositions.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

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PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

I like the idea of the last one but it is a bit tight and telephoto looking for me. I think it would be wonderful with the turbines against a more expansive whitescape, but as it stands the first is the one for me.

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You can see some of my photos here if you are so inclined

Got to say there aint much wrong with the original.

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K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..

The first one for me, I like the contrast between the building and the windmills

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Giorgio

Pentax Photo Gallery

Really like the simplicity of this one Barrie

The one that doesn't work for me is the middle one. 1 and 3 work in different ways - totally agree with the Gwyn's ethereal comment on the 3rd one.

Also agree with the 'anchoring' and 'building draws your eye" comments on the original to some extent.

Having stared at it for a while - to my eye - it is the bush on the right that makes the building draw my eye - the removal of the bush seems to work.

Please forgive the liberty Barrie- but cropped this way - I don't find the building a distraction - may just be me....

Carl

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No matter how many lenses I have owned - I have always needed just one more

Thanks for your comments everyone, it seems to be a matter of taste.

No liberty Carl. You may be right, now the building balances the turbines

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Barrie
Too Old To Die Young

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/barrieforbes
https://www.flickr.com/photos/189482630@N03/