More at John Day Fossil Beds

[Tom Walter]

I would like to get some BPN members thoughts on cropping this spectacular display of red rocks at the John Day Fossil Beds. When I took the photo I placed the mound in the center balanced by the tree on the right (See the next pane.) When I looked at the original image I was bothered by the mound being dead center in the image. So I cropped it as shown above with the mound slightly to the left, cutting off a bit of the base of the mound on the left. What do you think?

Nikon D200
Nikon18-200 3.5-5.6 G VR at 56mm
1/60 sec @ f 16
ISO 400
Tripod

[Tom Walter]

Here is the original image.

Tom

[Dave Mills]

Hi Tom, Actually I like the original best even though it's centered. I prefer the left side of the mound not cut and I like more space between the left side and the small mound. I also like more space in the foreground. The tree placement is well handled.

[Rene Quenneville]

I agree with you Dave, this is one of the occasion where the subject is revealed while being dead center. Maybe because the small bute is at the lower left third.
Very nice image.

[Paul Marcellini]

The original seems more balanced to me as well. Can't go wrong with that color combo either.

[Grady Weed]

I third the original version. Centered is good here. The top "looks" cut off. Keep posting these.

[joel quenneville]

It looks like I am the minority here:) but I like the cropped version better. The main hill is a bit larger and I find that the tree and small hump in the FG don't compete as the anchor point. As for cutting the main hill, I don't mind at all.

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Tom.
Another vote for the original.....as mentioned above I am not a fan of the cut look. The tree balances the mound nicely and the extra space seems to flow better.