Cockpit Island

Bo, I think they're a little distracting, especially the ones creeping in from the right. I think I would have used a longer lens and just focused on the island, sky, and reflecting clouds in the water.

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As with your prior image, I'd love to compare one without. I believe I would prefer without, because to my eye the elegant light and color of the distance is complemented strongly by the mirrored symmetry. The foreground items break that symmetry, and stalls the eye .

With that said, there is a lot of beauty here. And, if I remember correctly, you purposefully included the foreground elements. In the end, it's always better to shoot what appeals to you. If others are enchanted all the better, but it is your eye that must first be pleased.

When foreground elements are included, I find them most pleasing when they nestle the background. (Here's an example from a recent one of Harry's, and one of mine to illustrate what I mean. As always, YMMV.) I think Michael is dead on when he notes the right hand branches are more problematic; if it were the smaller, left-hand clump by itself it would fit much better.

Bo,

Personally, I much prefer the previous, horizontal image.  The foreground budding trees seemed more a part of the overall scene and it was clear you wanted to include them.  Plus, for this particular scene, the horizontal, more pastoral, landscape, image seems to work better.

To your question about the tree branches in this one.  I don't find them distracting at all, however, compositionally, they're crammed to the right half and the upper branches interrupt the presence of the island.

Both times  you also mention the importance of the island to you.  I understand and hear that, but as a viewer who has no connection to the moment, I have never considered an island to be of importance here.  I can  tell there's an island, it just isn't speaking to me as being an important part of the story.  It's the beautiful, colorful sunlit on a perfectly still lake - just quiet and beautiful.

 In the end, the vertical format just isn't giving me the same appreciation.  I think your first rendition works beautifully.

Lon

The image feels a bit ride sided and heavy, maybe too much blue sky and water on the left with so much going on the right.  I think a horizontal might work better here, as the clouds mirror the island. This type of image could work if there were some similar branches on the left and the island appeared through a window created by the new growth, but difficult to find that situation. I tried this one time with aspen trees and mnts in the background, but conditions difficult to find that work.

I really like the mood here with the soft lighting, Bo. I agree with everyone else's thoughts on those branches creeping in on the right side. If this were mine I would use the content aware tool or clone to get rid of them because everything else is so beautiful.

Ed

I find this version, much better balanced between the foreground leaves and the beautiful scene behind, Bo.

Thanks to all for your valuable comments. All of you agree that the branches are distracting. And special thanks to John for your examples of the foreground trees. Both images are the best to show how foreground and background objects should be aligned or complimentary to each other.

I have to admit that what I did was just follow a "formula" to include foreground, middle ground and background without compositionally aesthetic reason. And I didn't see that the splendid background and water would make a nice image.

The branches on the upper right were edited out. The branches at the bottom are not easy to be removed. I would rather shoot again, if the beautiful lighting comes back.

Thanks