Cottonwoods Redux

In the "yea or nay" post from last week, I had posted two versions of this scene - the first was an experiment-in-progress - an "artistic" motion-blur rendering; the second was the largely untouched, RAW file posted only for reference to the first.

Surprisingly (to me) folks liked the second, despite the lack of processing and resulting obvious flaws. Most notably, the grasses were way too bright - a byproduct of applying a rudimentary orton effect.

So, I went back to the RAW .nef file, worked it up, and here's the result. Does it work for you?

Well, wasnt around to chime in on your first post, but looking back i actually prefer your artsy version, its got a nice psyhedelic feel to it. But your redux is quite nice too, just different, subdued rather than electric. My preference would depend on the time of day and what i've been drinking beforehand.

I thought the motion blur version was really nice. But I also like this. Nice that we don't really have to chose, and we can just like 'em both.

Put this grass in the first version and give me back the abstract!

Ken

I really like this. I agree that's a a bit of personal preference to compare against the others, but this is my favorite. I think this would make a really nice print on some art paper.

Great image! Very abstract and I really like the colors.

I really like this one a bunch, but I also liked the PS'd version as well.

This has a beautiful feel to it. The panning abstract is fun, but I think this one has more general appeal. Print it on something soft. I'd love to see a print of it. You are coming to the next shindig right ?

I vote for the artsy version...

I agree with Ken, put this grass in the first one and I'll take the abstract. This one is very nice also.

This image is so outstanding - there always room for several interpretations. The golden glow is amazing!

This has such a soft "painted" quality about it. The light is just phenomenal. I love when photographs don't look like photographs simply because of the quality of light, and this is one of those. Outstanding, Rick. I've I had money, I'd buy a print of this. I also like the almost symmetry between left and right half

I agree with Laurent about the 'painterly' quality that this one already possesses.
I like this one a lot...the bare tree in the middle makes a wonderful break.

Are those steel fence posts I see?

Thanks for the comments everyone - very much appreciated. I think the grasses on the blurred shot need to be reigned in a little, but for me, these grasses would be too literal for that shot. Though as Dave said - lots of possible interpretations. I've printed both on Hahnemuhle Photorag and both look pretty darn nice!

John - yep, those are fence posts. I cloned out the more obvious ones in the blurred shot, but intentionally left them in here. They're subtle, but I like their contribution to the rural, pastoral feel.

I like them both, but I prefer the first version.