pquiggle Loc: Monterey Bay California

I can't decide which crop I like better.

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luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

I like the first one. This is a very nicely caught moment in time.

The gentleman in the plaid shirt and the tall gentleman with sunglasses really add to the photo; they are smiling and having a good time. The second one doesn't give a clear picture that they are dancing. The gentlemen the second photo look like they could be practicing martial arts. Also, the woman's (in the striped shirt) feet and body language are more suggestive of dancing in photo one but in the second photo her feet are not included. The second photo also makes the woman with the black shirt a more prominent figure and she looks like she is smirking or scowling as does the woman in the white shirt. In the first photo they fade and the smiles of the 2 men become prominent.

Something I look for in a photo is compositional elements that are pleasing to my eye. What I find most pleasing is the foreground, middle ground, background and if that is not present I look for leading lines and geometric shapes. In photo one you have the first gentleman as the point of a triangle. The gentleman with the plaid shirt is a corner and the man with sunglasses is the other corner. In photo 2, the man in the white shirt, the woman with the striped top and the woman in the black shirt also form a (loose) triangle but because it's not as well defined you don't have the same impact and balance.

Bottom line: Which photo do you like? What elements do you find pleasing about it? The photo community can show you their views and ways of thinking but in the end the only opinion that matters is yours!!!

JUST MY OPINION!!!

Dodie

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

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I personally prefer the first shot because it includes more of the surroundings.

travelwp Loc: New Jersey

The first one.

Voss

The first one. It provides much more context, and is compositionally superior, as Dodie pointed out.

mcmama

The first one. More is better here, imo.

RonKoris Loc: St. Helena Island, SC

Ditto all of the above, second shot does not show the dancing.

Stephan G

In my old neck-of-the-woods, we called it a "Rumble".

At some point they both tear their T-shirts off and begin the Bruce Lee Glow and Blur.

Based on my personal experience, the two look like they are facing off. There is very little in each image to show that they are dancing. Citing West Side Story would date me too much.

"Sparring in the street -- Which chop works best?"

Each shot tells a different story. Both well done.

pquiggle Loc: Monterey Bay California

Thank-you Dodie and everyone else who responded. What I found interesting about the second version was the disconnect between the dancers, all looking in different directions. I did not perceive the lack of context that showed the dancing. My favorite part of the first version were the two gentlemen in the corners of the triangle; I now see how they are the anchors of the composition.

I totally missed the martial arts rumble look of the tighter crop. Love your new title of the post Stephan "Sparring in the street -- Which chop works best?" is very cleaver, thanks.

Paul

Stephan G

I worked hard (actually, I didn't) for that quip. And who gets the credit? Beaver, Wally, Ward, or June [Cleaver]?

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

I like the first one better, as it shows more of the whole scene.

Photocraig

I suggest a vertical (portrait) crop showing the two men's feet. A dancing photo is incomplete without the feet. As others have said, this could be a fighting or maybe something else prelude. Ya need tha feets.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Another vote for #1.

Don

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I think the second shot gives a good impression of the two main characters as a detail. The first shot, though, puts everything in context and gives us more of an impression of the moment and what was happening around the main subjects.
Erich

Diamond41 Loc: St. Louis, MO

My vote is for number one.