Help me decide what to do!

[i speak in math]

I'm trying to PP a nice shot of this bridge. I have done 4 attempts at it and they are all a little different. I want to do a 30" print with matte and frame so I am looking for some good critiques (I know this isn't the critique section, but I wanted to compare at least 2 versions).

Btw, if you click on the picture and look at my picasa page, you can make the image larger by closing bookmarks/history, closing right side info panel and pressing f11 (in firefox) to go fullscreen.

This was basically the same as my first version, but I fixed up some cracked concrete on the bridge

http://picasaweb.google.com/enoeske/...25834554005026

This is my latest version. Fixed concrete and removed "distracting" trees. I also used a slightly different b&w conversion technique using more hard light.

http://picasaweb.google.com/enoeske/...19406543150578

Processed a little different, and warmified using a 33% sepia filter

http://picasaweb.google.com/enoeske/...31339059291794

Basically, help me figure out how to make the final version perfect. Are there elements of the first that are better than the second shot? Better with the trees removed? Light too harsh? Background too dark? Anything you can think of.

[jiminyClickit]

i speak in math,

By what measure, perfect? If you're hanging it framed in your home, you will need to be very happy with it yourself.

I had to say that because whatever you like about it, must be partly your familiarity with the scene. The lack of a more definite subject, or more interesting destination after crossing the bridge, is distracting my thoughts. If choosing only one, based on other criteria, I believe the second (middle) one has at least a hint of lighting making the crest (hump) of the bridge interesting, and the trees were distracting. But I like the deeper shadows in the collection of leaves and stuff on the sides of the path in the first one.

The third seems more pink than sepia.

One of the reasons we suggest leveling horizontals in landscapes is so there is nothing noticeably "off" about a scene. In all three I noticed the right-tilt, and started looking for other things. The crop then seemed to raise the "why there?" question. It's very tight.

Would you say the bridge is your subject?

[i speak in math]

Yes, the bridge is definitely the subject. I had a thought of crossing a bridge being a lot like taking a chance and doing something in life that you may have been apprehensive to do. I liked this shot because the bridge seems to be extending you its hands and making the crossing easier.

I didn't notice any right tilt, but I will attempt to fix that.

So, the light on the bridge of the second one, with the darkness in the trees of the first one? That sound about right?

here we go

http://picasaweb.google.com/enoeske/...19406543150578

[photofun]

[QUOTE=i speak in math;282109]Yes, the bridge is definitely the subject. I had a thought of crossing a bridge being a lot like taking a chance and doing something in life that you may have been apprehensive to do. I liked this shot because the bridge seems to be extending you its hands and making the crossing easier.


I like that!! After reading your comments I did see the "hands". I think my favorite version would be somewhere between 2 & 3. I'd like to see #2 a little warmer but not quite so much as #3. In #3 I find the area on the left side of the wall distracting - I think that the ground has lighten up and seems to glow in the 3rd version. Anyway this definitely has meaning for you and if you hang it, it will surely give you comfort when crossings those bridges.

[renzdurano]

Cute...! its like im looking on a sketch drawing...!