photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State

I shot this on a sailing trip when this girl just appeared on the rocks and "Made" the picture.
When I got back home to my computer, It suddenly occurred to me to flip the photo. It has a decidedly different impact. Which do you prefer and why?
The why is more important to me than is the "which" part of the question. I'll treat this as a learning opportunity!

For those who need to know No. 1 was as shot. No. 2 is flipped.

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RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

#1 for me because the land mass stops my eye from wandering out of the picture.

MichaelEBM Loc: Los Angeles CA

#2 for me because the photograph "reads" from left to right (as we in the Western world do); from the land to the girl out to the water and beyond.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

The tendency to scan from left to right can be a positive but it can also be a negative. In #1 I find that I can start at the girl, move out across the water to the ship, on to the mountain peaks and then enter general scanning mode, whereas in #2 I find that after reaching the mountain peaks I succumb to the pull to the right and I cease scanning as I leave the frame on the right.

If an image has strong attention attractors they will usually be strong enough to overcome the tendency to scan from left to right. If after that there is additional interest from weaker attention attractors, the viewer will then have the option of entering general scanning mode - which may often not be strong enough to overcome the tendency to scan from left to right.

The tendency to scan from left to right is far from compelling for a lot of people. When working on computers we have a tendency to transfer our gaze from the keyboard to the screen and back, which requires a vertical movement of our attention. Where images on a computer screen are concerned, I've noticed a tendency to enter the frame at the bottom centre, where the direction of my attention is upwards. If an image has good attention directors (leading lines, channels, foreground framing) they will direct the eye into the shot as opposed to leading it out of the frame.

waymond Loc: Pflugerville, Texas

It depends upon which is most important to the viewer. Humans, or water, sky and rocks.

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

When I first looked at the picture I saw the overall scene for a second then right to the girl. I think I focused on here because she ended up being the focal point as she was just about in the center of the picture. When you flipped it she still was in the center and therefore didn't change the picture for me. So as I see it I don't think one has more merit than the other. It would come down to individual preference and not necessarily the majority of viewers.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

For some reason, No. 1 looks more natural to me.
--Bob

bertloomis Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

The bottom one, likely because I am used to reading left to right.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

We look left to right in the western world, but also close to far so it's the bottom one for me. Other suggestions are to apply dehaze, bring the blue out in the sky and in the water.

photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State

R.G.
Thanks or the input. I can understand what you are saying and why. Yet I am still puzzled. I prefer photo No. 2. I posted this topic in an attempt to explore why my preference flies in the face of convention. I.E. trying to understand how that could be given the info you are sharing about leading lines/ attractors etc. BTW there were no changes made between 1 & 2 other than flipping horizontally.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I think much depends on expectation and/or viewing habits. Some are happy to give a shot a once-over and be satisfied with that whereas others won't rate a shot highly unless it holds their attention for more than a moment. And even that could change for any individual depending on their mood at the time. Perhaps some of us are geared up to look primarily for immediate impact whereas others prefer subtleties that creep up on them when they linger on a photo. In each case the viewer will have a different set of values/preferences to rate what they're seeing.

But I don't see it as necessary to analyse how we view things. For most of us it's a case of "I can't explain what I like but I know it when I see it". It would be easy to over-think these things.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Looking at the above statement it occurs to me that it may be a bit ambiguous. What I'm saying is that if you understand the so-called "rules" of composition they will tell you most of what you need to know and you don't need an in-depth understanding of how we view things because that is what the rules (i.e. guidelines) are based on. If you understand the use of leading lines, channels, foreground framing, subject placement and the use of light and vividness to draw our attention, that is what matters.

The things I've just described are attention directors, attention attractors and attention holders. If you include the use of balance/imbalance (harmonious/dynamic) and the framing of the overall composition, that just about covers the basics of composition. Whether we scan from left to right, right to left or from bottom centre upwards will always be a personal thing and prone to change, even from moment to moment. I personally wouldn't base my composition preferences on the possibility that some may prefer a flip to either encourage or resist left to right scanning, but I recognise that some may have a clear-cut preference as far as that factor is concerned.

bigtex2000 Loc: Arlington, TX

Could it possibly be the more dominant eye is what determines our preference in choosing one photo over the other? My favorite is the 2nd one, and my left eye is my dominant eye. I love them both, but prefer the land mass on the left, and cannot explain why except for the eye theory. Thoughts?????

Umnak Loc: Mount Vernon, Wa.

I like #1 for the "space" it creates in my eye. Somehow the ferry just "seems" to have more room to move. I've spent many days out in our Salish Sea and never had the good timing/fortune to have someone enhance a shot like this! Thanks for sharing!

Nightski

I think the girl makes the picture too. Nice light and composition. I like the first one for some reason.