Country Fields - Different focus points

[PhilD41]

This isn't as much comparing two different edits of the same photo as it is two photos of the same subject. Both of the images below are of almost the exact same view point. The only difference is where I set my focus point. They have even had close to identical post processing in Bibble5.

I am curious which is enjoyed the most. I initially liked the first with the soybeans in focus and the clouds providing a soft background. However, the clouds were so amazing that day, with scattered showers, and the second truly captures what I was looking at. I have a hard time choosing one.

So, I am asking you. Which one do you like the best, and why? Does the bokeh in the first over power the image or add an element of artistry? Do the soybeans in the second simply distract from the farmscape or do they help set the context for the image? Just curious which comes across best to help guide my work in the future.

Soybeans in focus with clouds as background

Soybean Afternoon by phil41dean, on Flickr

Farm and sky in focus shot past the soybeans

Soybean Afternoon 2 by phil41dean, on Flickr

Thank you for your feed back and critique. I welcome your honesty, tips, and suggestions.

[tlcphotog]

I would say the one with the soybeans IN focus, IF you did a layer mask in PS over the sky to make the clouds also more focused. This is because with the soybeans in focus, you know what the background is (i.e. a farm). But with them out of focus, you can't tell if the soybeans are grass, weeds, etc.
Otherwise, I would say the one with the soybeans out of focus, because I really don't like the sky in the first one.

[milosh]

For me, the soybeans in the first one are not such a spectacular subject, and the light isn't very flattering either. In the second, the clouds and ground in the background provide me enough interest, while the soybeans serve only to give the landscape a sense of scale and placement. So, for me, it's the second one!

[Shutteraddict]

For me, the skyscape as the subject with the blurred soybeans as the anchor works better. The clouds are just much more interesting than the not colorful soybeans. Just my opinion

[QuattroKiddos]

I really like the way the light plays on the leaves of the soybean plants as opposed to the sky. The sky in focus is nice, but I like the leaves better personally.