cropping red-flowering currant

[mapgirl]

I'm still in the early stages of playing around with my new macro lens and its effects. Here are two versions of a red-flowering currant. One isn't cropped and one is (with a few other adjustments). Which do you prefer? I'm partial to number two because of the change in composition with the cropping. It seems more intense to me. Opinions? Thank you!





Camera: Canon Rebel XTi
Lens: Canon 60mm macro
ISO: 400
F-stop: f/6.30
Exposure: 1/400
no flash

[ARWildflower]

As someone who's very new to this, I probably have little right to comment, but this comparison caught my attention as I've been playing with macros a lot recently. I very much prefer the cropped version. The colors are more intense, the excess background adds nothing to the first and isn't missed in the second. I do wonder, however, if it would have been even better slightly less cropped to have less of the flower cut off. That might just be me missing one of the finer points of composition, though. :-)

[KajeYomama]

I agree with the post above. Being closer gives it a more intimate touch, and the colours are like bam in your face, I am the subject feel (which is good). Both are good shots though.

[i_am_beam]

Both shots are great. I do like the out-of-focus background on the first one, but the second is better composed. I would still have to chose the first one.