Freedom (4 versions)

And the second version.

This is very pretty. Moody and dynamic... I prefer the second version. It feels more vibrant, kinda happy and alive. Very well done, Kah. Both of them look great.

I prefer the first version, taking water action over more clouds. I see the seagull did a 180 between shots. Gorgeous light!

Wow!

Both are quite beautiful, but I'd have to give the edge to number one, because the sun glinting off the water is just sublime, and the bird is in a better position.

Both are stunning images but I'm inclined to prefer the first image with the great water motion, and (silly as it may sound) the bird looking left into the frame. Compositionally, just seems to work a bit better. But both really are beautiful.

as you mentioned
the water in the first picture is amazing
and the sky is wonderful in the second
I might go for the first one with brightening the front rock a little bit
Great work Kah :)

Hard to decide Kah Kit, both are really eyecatching and appealing. I think I do prefer the secon one. Not only because of the light, but I like that the comp. appears more "open". Also the crop works really well. Interesting detail: The bird's orientation changes

Hi

I prefer the motion in the water in the first one too. The left hand side looks a bit darker in the second one too and the bird is facing out of frame. I would definately go with the first one.

Ian

I think I prefer the second shot, The light looks so much better, I prefer the colour also. They are both great though Kah.

Gary.

This is stunning Kah Kit. I love both versions. Yes, the light is better in the second but it is still great in the first. I prefer the wider field of view of the first and of course the water motion. What really strikes me here is what difference the orientation of the bird makes - I prefer it pointing in the direction of the sunset. Overall great work and most of all I like how very realistic it looks.

Beautiful Kah Kit. I prefer the first version. The FG in the 2nd version seems a little disruptive.

Both of these are beautiful. I love the water in the first one, so like that one a little better. Nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, Wi.

Great timing Kah Kit, love the texture of the water, not so soft, not so static. Light is beautiful, and the seabird on the rock is a great plus here. I prefer the first version without a doubt, it´s more dynamic.

Although the second is good (nice sky) I much prefer the first. I like my birds to be left leaning

Both versions are beautiful. I prefer the second as there is more detail in the distant rocks, and I like the softness and color of the light on the distant rocks better. I actually find the water motion in the first photograph distracting, pulling my eye downward and away from the beauty of the distant rock towers. I do like the direction of the bird in the first photo, but that could be changed.

Wow, what an amazing moment you caught here! I like both, but the first is the easy winner for me (although i wish the bird were looking towards the sun as in the second ) due to the much better light and action in the waves. Terrific shot!

What and incredible scene and perfectly handled light. Both are excellent, and you call it correctly that it's the motion in the first and the light in the second. My personal preference is the second one. However, to really make the perfect picture, I'd say clone the bird from the first into the second. It's a very strong focal point, and feel really perfect in the first image.

Nice work. They're both keepers IMO, but I agree it's the first for sure.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've included a stitch of the two images as a result.

Sweet, now you have it going on! Nice work.

If I may nit, I would like the bird facing the setting sun.

A beautiful image, Kah Kit. I much prefer the orginal version. It's overall tone and mood fit so well together. I like the water motion, and how there is no reference to the immediate shore line, so it looks like you're out in the sea. I hope you gave thanks to the gull
Great shot!

Sorry here's hopefully the last version. I've been doing a bit of work on this tonight:)

It really is a tough call to pick between the two...then again, you don't have to since you've taken both :).
Great light! beautifully captured. The first has a slight edge in term of composition I think.

Kah,

A grand seascape to be sure - perhaps even encroaching upon epic? maybe? :-) Ya know, watching the iterations go by now, some times you just can't beat your first impression. I personally like the first version the best. As a couple have said, I like the wave action and motion in that one and while the sky is fantastic, it's not a competitor, if that makes sense.

Now if I had to pick another version it would be the second to last. The 4th version I think the color variation in the water from green to purple is stronger than any of the others. And in all the subsequest alternates, I think the blue in the sky is a bit on the electric side. Just an opinion of course, but I think the blue sky in the last two kind of detract a little from the rest of the scene.

Oh, and I like the seagull facing the sun too.

Lastly, I like the warmth in the original too. Fantastic seascape.

Lon

That fourth one looks AMAZING! Great light, shutter speed, everything. A small nit from me would be that the rock on which that gull is perched is a bit dark on the top half. Do you have any more detail in that from another exposure? You dont need much more detail there, just a tad.

I wouldn't be into this much if not for the tiny bird. Small subject, huge impact IMO. I'm very slightly partial to the first one with a bit more brightness and luminosity added to the sky.

Although in the 2nd the bird looks away and I like that, it doesn't quite have the nice water movement the others do. I would go with the 4th. Nicely seen and captured all four.

Tough choice, so why does one even have to choose? Both are great shots with a different feel for each.

"I wouldn't be into this much if not for the tiny bird. Small subject, huge impact IMO."

Absolutely Marc. I wouldn't have taken the shot without the bird. I'm fascinated by the responses about which way the bird faces. My initial thought was better looking into the frame, as if gazing towards the rock stacks but on further reflection, perhaps looking out towards the sunset may be better.

What an awesome seascape, Kah Kit! I prefer the second to last one, if I have to make a choice. I agree that the bird makes an immediate focal point in the amazing scene. I do like the bird facing the sun, though. Sweet shot all around.

The first version is still the best in my book.

- Dan.

Awesome photo! The first one is great.

1ST version rocks my boat - the 4th looks a tad too over-worked.

I really like the 2nd version, the bird just has some place to fly away from that rock.
Wonderful shot.

Lovely image. Amazing wave patterns. Somehow still like the first post. The bird makes all the difference as said above.