Locks of Cologne - how is better?

[Orpheuss]

Hello,

I have this shot that is very dear to me and I was proud for not editing it a single bit. But everybody said that I should remove the left part of the picture, as the sky there is overexposed. What do you think?

1. Original version

From Semi selection

2. Cropped version

From Semi selection

Also, do you have any other suggestions regarding composition or other aspects?

And EXIF:

Camera Sony DSC-H3
Exposure time: 1/200
Aperture: f3.5
ISO 100
White balance: Sunny

[matneym]

I prefer the original. I like the atmosphere with the sun going down and light playing on the locks.

[hifigraz]

Only copying matneym, but I like the original. The cropped version is too dull.... at least compared to the original.

[lputman]

Sometimes, it's ok to have a bit of over exposed portions. The original is fine!

[Orpheuss]

Thank you all for your opinion, is exactly what I thought; I was kinda depressed when on another forum everybody told me to loose the sky, because I really liked it this way
. And it also has a "making story" that makes it special for me: my Sony was dead and I managed to start it again after half an hour for exactly the amount of time to take this picture

Thank you again. And if you think that I can improve something to the original, please tell me

[u.jemar]

That's why sometimes rules are made to be broken..

[Joe Schmoe]

I prefer the original, I have no problems with the sky being blown out.

If you do crop it, try converting it to landscape, so that you can still tell that you are on the street. (attached cropped hopefully this is ok to do)

[Jill H]

I prefer the original too, as you can see where the golden light is coming from, and it gives an idea of the location in which the photo was taken so it tells something of the story - without it I think the photo looses this.

[LeeR]

Andy Warhol used to say "To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail." It seems that overexposure is one of the first things beginners learn to recognize and they point it out EVERY time they see it. Is it something we usually try to avoid? Certainly, but like every other rule in photography, there are times when it is perfectly appropriate. You have a wonderful shot you should be proud of; leave the way it is.

[SoxAddict]

I too prefer the original - the light really makes the shot. Never forget, though, that you get the final say on all your photos! Even if you were the only person who preferred your original, it's still yours, so you don't need to feel pressured to do anything to a shot.

Art is in the eye of the beholder, and we all see things differently and appreciate things for different reasons.