No Foreground and Wide No Foreground

Here's the last two from the other morning at Twin Lakes. Please let me know which you like more, either of these or the one I posted Tuesday with the foreground shore and driftwood. Thanks so much!

Russ
http://www.AlpineGalleria.com

Here's a wider version. Again, thanks in advance for you critique's.

Russ
www.AlpineGalleria.com

I like #1 above best. The driftwood and mountain reflection merge in your first post was too much for me. I wanted to reach into the image and move the wood about a foot away from the reflection! For a self-taught artist, you've got a really nice image!

The colors are richer in #1. I think the amount of sky and therefore the amount of light in #2 dulls the colors overall. If the merge would not be there in the other image, it would be my favorite.

I like number 1 a little better. In comparing this to the ones from the other day, the foreground in the previous set is fairly dark so I don't think it adds a lot to the image. I think I like the first image in this set best.

Of these two, #1 is definitely better because of the light and richer colors. I agree with Jack though on the previous.

Please share your technique for making those two huge bodies of water stand still for you, Russ. Don't know that I've ever seen Twin Lakes that glassy. Beautiful images, love the light and clouds.

I think I would like the composition of the second better, all other things being equal... but they're not equal. The moment of light on the top of the peak in the first definitely makes it better to my eye.

My pick would be #2, because although the light in #1 is better, it's still not nearly as good as your previous post, so therefore I prefer the drastically different wide comp of #2. The greens of the lit forest are intriguing too.

#2 would be my pick because overall it is a lot ligher and has more going on with the whole image, #1 just has too much of a darkness thru the middle section, even though #1 has the better light.

Hi Russ - I really like both images. I think I like the processing overall for the first images (a bit more vibrant), but overall like both compositions. Lightening up the middle on the first one would be one small tweak that could really make it pop. I would be happy to have either of these in my portfolio.

Nice work Russ,
I've always been drawn to more of a panoramic view so #2 does it for me. It looks like you could bring out the same color and clarity on the peaks in #2 that I see in #1. They are both outstanding!

I didn't see the Tuesday post yet Russ, but of these 2, I like the second one best. I just like the overall comp better and a little more look of the sky.