Mute Swan immature, crop version A or B?

[Bill Dix]

D90; 80-400 VR @ 210mm. ISO 800. f/6.3 @ 1/3200. Matrix metering @ -0.3 EV.

I'm torn between two possibilities for composition of this fellow, taken at a local park late yesterday afternoon. Is it A, shown here, or B, on the next page. And why?

[Bill Dix]

Here's option B. Thanks for offering your opinions.

[Cheryl Flory]

I like the second one better.

[Lance Peters]

B - The first one feels to tight on the bottom and dont like the way the neck/body work with the crop.
:)

[Phil Ertel]

Hi Bill, I also like the second one. The view of the neck and the inclusion of the water circles is appealing to me. Another crop to consider would be to included more of the rings produced for the dripping eater (if you have it). However, pretty darn nice as is ( the second one that is). Thanks for sharing.

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Bill,
I like the second one. I like the color rendition, fine feather details, head angle and sharp eye contact...well done...:cool:

[William Malacarne]

B

The long neck(virtual) fits better with the height.

Bill

[Bill Dix]

Thank you all. It sounds unanimous. It may be that I should have left well enough alone and not cropped at all. Here is the original, full-frame image. I was intrigued by the perfectly spherical drop and wanted to crop in to highlight it, but maybe a crop isn't necessary.

[Anita Rakestraw]

I vote for either the 2nd crop or the full frame, Bill. Both! All three! LOL! I can see why you wanted to show off the drop.....It's a beautiful, beautiful image!! A little more on the bottom would improve it a bit maybe, but I'd take it as is, especially if it were mine! ((-:

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Bill,
I like the full-frame image best, the second one second, and the first one the least. This is an issue I've mulled over with duck images many times... The landscape crop doesn't show any relationship between the neck and the body. The body just looks like a pile of feathers (that's what my wife said about my duck shots like this)! :) It is a really nice image and the water drop is awesome! :D After admiring the lovely swan, my eye is drawn immediately to the drop, so I don't think cropping in is necessary. Is that worth $.02? ;)

[arash_hazeghi]

I like B because of ripples :)

[Thanaboon Jearkjirm]

I like the B crop best, then full frame and crop A being the last. I also like the water drop, B helps highlighted that with room at the bottom for the drop to drop down, and the ripple. The full is good too, with beautiful reflection of water on the duck body.

[Mark Theriot]

Agreed, second crop or full frame!

Mark

[Jamie Douglas]

B has a much more tranquil feel to it.