Don't stand so close to me...(repost)

Not sure where I stand on this one -- I saw these two having a great discussion about the brilliant fall colors. I liked how they framed the background, but I am not sure if it really works or not. Opinions?

I like the composition with the boles framing the scene, I would like it more if the scene was in focus though.

I like the comp, Paul, but I would really like the bg to be in focus.

I see what you guys are saying -- I guess I was going for more of an artistic thing. I shot tons of images that day with lots of nice trees and lots of DOF, I just wanted to try something different I suppose. In my mind, the trees were the focus and I wanted the background to be a colorful blur. Maybe I've been shooting too many portraits

I agree with the above comments, but like the attempt to do something different. For an artistic effect, I think maybe having the foreground trees out of focus and the background in focus might have worked better. Your eyes are drawn directly to the background, so I don't think having that out of focus quite works here.

Thanks, Grant -- point taken. I guess sometimes breaking rules just doesn't work.

But it never hurts to try Paul, I do a lot of experimentation that doesn't work, but it keeps things interesting and fun for me. Maybe part of the issue is the background is not out of focus enough, and the boles are too dark, if they were white they would be brighter than the background and hold one's attention better.

Good points, Scott -- I think you are right on about the background. A different lens with a bigger aperture might have been a better choice.

I like the artistic effect also. Sometimes landscape photographers get too hung up on sharpness throughout where the image might benefit from another approach like yours. I do think there is too much room left on the lower third that a crop would solve. Just my opinion.
Joe Rogers

Thanks, Joe -- good suggestion. I think that in the last few years I've purposely tried different types of photography (wedding, portrait, sports) to try and get a different perspective and hopefully develop some other skills-- which was interesting. I will try anything I can to improve my images, even another wedding

I kinda like this, Paul. I'm thinkin' that it may have been more successful had the pine tree not been there. That creates a focal point that one may want to focus on, as opposed to a more even background of just aspens.
On a side note, this has a pretty heavy color cast. I realize why it happened and it's not 'bad' or anything, but fixing it (even partially) gives it a slightly different look.

Although this particular image doesn't really work for me, Paul, I love seeing that other folks like to experiment too. On any particular outing, I'd say 50% of my images are experiments. The ones that work make the whole process worth it and I always learn something.

John, I think you are right about the color cast -- I tend to tweak the WB settings to adjust the mood of the shot and I might have overcooked it. Here is a tuned down version.
Thanks Paul and Joseph for your input!

I sure like this version better. Just seems 'cleaner', and it did wonders for the background.

Thanks, John -- I think you are right.

I like the repost better and I like the shot as is, and in fact I might would try a gaussian blur on just the background to soften it more if it was mine.

Great idea Morris, I will have to give that a go. Thanks!