Help me decide

On Monday I had the opportunity to watch a spectacular sunrise from Sprague Lake. I posted one of these images on the ESS gallery and received some helpful feedback. I'm now trying to decide which of these two images to print. What are your thoughts? Should I go with image number 1 or image number 2?

Here's image #2. I like the color in this better but the horizon just seems too centered. Thoughts?

Both are very nice, but the reflection in #2 is far superior.

Nice shots Erik! I'd say number two is the better....much more colour in the clouds and hence the reflection.

#1 I like this one because its a little more subtle.

I say #2 as I prefer the reflections in this one. Both are very nice though.

Eric, I also prefer #2. It has a brighter feel to it. I really like the 2nd because it has more pretty blue sky and brighter sunset color. By the way, Very Beautiful image!

Beautiful shots! Another vote for #2. Nothing seems too centered to me.

I think the wider angle in #1 makes for a better composition, but the cloud reflection is certainly better in #2. So I guess I'd go for #2 by a smidge.

Erik, I prefer #1 with the more subtle colors. It seems more natural to me. Either one would be a prize-winner, however. Thanks for asking.

I prefer number 1, the cloud reflections in number 2 are too bright to be natural. Great shot by the way Erik. Was this Sprague lake?

Erik, both are awesome shots, I think it boils down to which one better suits the environment you are going to display in. For example, the color of the wall, with/without spotlight..etc. And how large you are going to print also affects the decision I guess. Personally I'd print number 2. :-)

I see image #2 is winning, but here's another vote for #1. My reason being the more natural looking colours, and the less bright horizon and middle reflection areas.

Wow, tough call. But I'd definitely vote for #1 because of the composition - specifically the way that the gap in the clouds mirrors the shape of the front pond.

The second shot has slightly more spectacular color, but it seems a bit ordinary composition-wise compared with the first.

The second shot has slightly more spectacular color, but it seems a bit ordinary composition-wise compared with the first.

My thoughts exactly on why I prefer #1. You also included more of that lovely sky in #1.

My vote is for #2, on the condition that the sky was darkened slightly, especially the light blues and the highlights from the rising sun.

Come on guys! You're not helping at all!! The vote is pretty much split with good reasons on either side. I agree that the composition in #1 is more interesting and the color is more dramatic in #2. Perhaps it would be simpler just to ask which image is likely to sell better, though I already know that most people could care less about subtleties of composition and just want something dramatic for their wall.

Tough call Eric, but with the question changed to which one will probably sell more I will go with 2 hands down.

Beautiful Erik, I'd go with number 2.

I prefer the second shot. I like the colors and I'm not at all bothered by the placement of the horizon.

Cheers,

It's the color that'll sell it. #2, hands down!

Even though I voted for #1, I gotta agree with Todd.
You really did fine work capturing both of these!

Number 2 goes on my wall Erik.

Jack

#2 for all the right reasons! Great work.

I really like the more natural clouds in the first image.

#2 is the one I would print.

Here's a thought based on my Ouzel Falls shot. I've sold three of these already....thanks again Erik, I owe ya lunch! I showed my first shot and the corrected shot to my clients and one of them bought the original and the other 2 wanted the "corrected" version. So, you may have possibilities with both. I'd at least consider putting both of them on your site and give the clients a choice if that makes sense.

Jack

Boy, am I late to this party. I personally prefer #1, due to the wider view, but I totally get why #2 is so appealing. I think Todd nailed it, but Jack's idea is good too. I would love to have to make such a decision.

Hi Erik. Both are beautiful, but I prefer #1. As some have already said, the comp is better and the colors more natural. Plus, I like the warm and cool contrast in #1. Also, in #2 there's somewhat of a horizontal white line (in the reflection) at the far edge of the lake that I find a little distracting, especially since it's dead center.

Which would sell better? Depends on your audience, I guess. I think you're right, though, that the average Joe would probably pick #2 because they would like the intense pinks.

Thanks everyone for your input! I think I'll probably work mostly with the second one as I think it is more likely to sell. As Jack suggested I will hold on to the other one, which is better in many ways, for other client needs.

#2 - color and drama. Good luck!

I'm curious why folks are saying the colors are more "natural" in the first shot??? Eric probably took these the exact same way seconds apart, nothing more natural about the first vs the second; just different.

I feel they both seem a bit dark, especially in the trees on the lake edges; grad line cutting in too much? I'm sure as Eric stood on the lake shore, detail in the trees was easily evident, but to each their own on artistic interpretation of a shot.

The second seems like a much more appealing image to me; color, reflection, less blow out near the sun, cloud highlights are better and I wouldn't worry much about centered horizons on reflections. And let's be serious, no one but anal photographers are going to care about the comp in #1 vs #2