Osprey, with or without?

[Bill Dix]

D90; 80-400 VR @ 370mm. ISO 400. f/7.1, 1/1000s. Matrix metering @ -1.0 EV. HH. 30% crop.

After a day of good birding but disappointing photography on Hog Island WMA, I took the ferry back to Jamestown as the sun was about to set. As we pulled into the ferry slip, this pair of ospreys was nesting on the piling right next to my car. A few seconds after this was taken the boat's shadow moved across the bird's face. Question: is this a stronger image with or without the oof mate? (see second image below) C&C appreciated.

[Bill Dix]

Here's the version sans mate. Comments appreciated.

[Willem Verboom]

I like the second one more than the first one. Nice light on the head. Well done.

Willem

[Myer Bornstein]

I also like # 2 stronger image

[Andy MacDougall]

I would have to say #2 is better. The oof mate is humerous, an "outtake" sort of shot if you like.

Nice golden light on the head. Not too sure on the comp but I guess this isn't a crop if it was so close ? I'd like more room around the bird myself.

Andy

[Mark Young]

I would have to say #2 is better. The oof mate is humerous, an "outtake" sort of shot if you like.

Andy

I was thinking the same thing.

I guess it depends on why you want to show the image, and what you want other people to get from it.
Personally I prefer the implied humour of the first image. The oof bird looks like that goofy mate you had as a kid who always stuck his head in the photo just as it was being taken!

[Mark Young]

I would have to say #2 is better. The oof mate is humerous, an "outtake" sort of shot if you like.

Andy

I was thinking the same thing.

I guess it depends on why you want to show the image, and what you want other people to get from it.
Personally I prefer the implied humour of the first image. The oof bird looks like that goofy mate you had as a kid who always stuck his head in the photo just as it was being taken!