Lunar Eclipse Over Crater Lake (which one?)

I wasn't quite happy with the landscape I shot Monday night to use as the backdrop for my lunar eclipse sequence. Since the image is, out of necessity, a composite I decided to go to Crater Lake last night to photograph a backdrop that would lend a little more drama to the event (while still staying somewhat true to reality). I have included a horizontal version and a vertical version. I'd love your feedback if one or the other speaks to you. I'd also be interested to know if anyone thinks using a backdrop taken at another location on another night takes away from the image as long as I identify it as such. The eclipse certainly would have been viewable from Crater Lake had I been there.

Also, I plan on posting one of the two images in a main NPN forum. It seems a shame to tuck it away in Photo Art, even though that is what it is. Do you think I could post it in ESS since it is an effort to depict an actual natural event close to the way it occured, or would that cause a rumble? Marc A, if you are out there what do you think?

...and the vertical.

Others may disagree but, I actually like your original comp better (with lights cloned). This one is great but, it might be over-the-top great. I feel like Crater Lake and the sunset somewhat rob the glory from the moon. In otherwords, they detract from the primary focus. The original background is very nice in that it compliments the moon series but, it doesn't steal the show.

where can i order a print?!

First, I actually like the initial post at least as much if not better. The emphasis is so dominantly on the eclipse, that I think the foreground should be simple and not competing for attention. For me, this is an astrological shot that can only be complicated by the introduction of an interesting foreground. I prefer the vertical here slightly.
This is more dominantly documentary than artistic IMO, but this version less so than the first one you actually shot on the same evening. You'd have to fully explain your processes if you post on ESS, but there isn't any rule against it. I think the intent to show the cycle in a documentary sense - even if it is a composite, fits with the ESS guidelines. Also, similar shots could have been accomplished using a film camera with multiple exposures.

Hans and Marc - thanks for the honest opinions. The first couple of critiques I received didn't like the foreground in the original version, so it is interesting to hear the flip-side. I'll have to think carefully about which version I go with.

Ned - if you're serious about a print, fire me an email and we'll make it so. If not I still say thanks for the great compliment!

Sean, I agree-- I like the original foreground better. But if you do go with the Crater Lake foreground, and since it is composite anyway, how about flipping the moon arc (or the lake) across the horizontal axis so that Wizard Island points into the larger portion of the empty space under the moons?

I preferred the original version and I'd love a print of it also. The quality of your work on that is so good, I'm not going to post this image I'm making in the photo art category until next week !!

I prefer the original, but of these two, I like the vertical.

I really dont like the vertical. The horizontal is great, I might prefer it cropped from the bottom to provide more emphasis on the moon and not the landscape. I do prefer the very first version more because of the mountain.

I like the horizontal a lot, Sean - as well or more than the original. I think your basic photo consumer out there would really like the added element of the lake, as well. It's really beautiful to look at, and would make a great poster. One interesting possibility would be something that you could market at Crater Lake, proper - I'll bet CLNP visitors would snap up quality prints of this!

Tom

Sean, these are still very cool composites, but I like the original wih the lights cloned out the best. Crater Lake is a little over doing it for me with this, personally. And horizontal works better than vertical, again IMO!

Hey Sean, I think you could put this composite in a Mcdonalds parking lot and it would still be way cool. I think I like the first post better. I might be bias toward the local landscape and Mt. Ashland. I'm impressed with the effort it took to pull this off. Hope to meet you someday around Ashland.

Geez, Sean, my socks just blew off and clean outa site.

Here's another opinion for you to consider: what about toning down the highlights (esp. whites) on the horizon a bit. I think the brightness there is what competes with the moon sequence for me.
And I like the horizontal image better.

Wow...