Playing with DoF. . .which one is better?

[Matthias099]

I have here two photos of the same subject with two different settings for different DoF. Which one do you think to be better? I am torn between them. Help me out please. Which one works better for you?

[stgmgr]

Bottom works best for me!

[dlaf]

Bottom for me as well. It may be because I'm very nearsighted, but when I see shots where there are blurry objects in the foreground, I just want to reach for my glasses to correct it.

[Cuchulainn]

The bottom one works best for me as well. As with any photograph you want there to be an identifiable point of interest. With the top photo I really have to search the photo to find where that is. With the bottom one the point of interest is clearly the filaments. At least I think that is what they are called. I am not a botanist

[NileQueen]

Well same for me. Bottom looks more vivid and feels amazing just by looking at it.

[Stryker]

TBH, to me it looks like the first one is focused on the petals and second one on the stamens with the exact same settings (f/5.6, 1/200 reading off the flickr page). What different settings did you mean when you mention it? If I had to pick on it would be the second one, as eveyone else.

[rediguana]

Second image definitely! In the first, I want to see the stamens, and find the background of the petals distracting. In the second, the stamens are in focus, add more interest, and I find the petal provide a very nice out-of-focus background. Definitely no. 2!

[Laurence]

I like the 2nd one also. Almost looks 3D to me.

[Murtasma]

Combine them into a single image.

[Matthias099]

Originally Posted by Stryker

TBH, to me it looks like the first one is focused on the petals and second one on the stamens with the exact same settings (f/5.6, 1/200 reading off the flickr page). What different settings did you mean when you mention it? If I had to pick on it would be the second one, as eveyone else.

I was just talking about the focusing point. That was the only difference here. I just wanted your opinions on what looks better, when taking this kind of shots. Thanks for your input.