photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

I like 2 the most, like more of the right bank showing.

John from gpwmi Loc: Michigan

I like the composition of 2 because the bridge pier is off-center and the right bank is more exposed, however the bridge is way out of focus. I don't understand 3 & 4. Two objects competing for focus. The dead tree adds nothing to the photo for me. Foreground objects can add perspective, but the dead tree overwhelms the photo.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I prefer #2 over #1 specifically because I think the foreground is more interesting than the background. In general, I don't care for out of focus foregrounds.

I prefer #3 over #4 because I think #4 is just a little too close up, causing the foreground to lose context.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

1, definitely. 2 is focused on some branches that are without any real appeal. 3 and 4 are too busy - what am I supposed to be looking at?

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

just #1 for me ...sorry

jbhess

I would like a shot composed similar to 1 & 2, but with the bridge in sharp focus, not the distant background nor the tree branches. So I guess I would say I don't really like any of the four. Certainly not the last two with the obtrusive & irrelevant tree.

MinoltaMike

I want to thank everyone for your responses.
There were no right or wrong choices as far as I am concerned. I wanted to get your take on these two pair of shots.
I will explain what I was doing; I wanted to use FOCUS ONLY to see what differences I could come up with. The bridge and stream were never the main subjects for me in my composition of these shots. As you can tell in shots 1&2, the pine tree branches were the subject (in focus) with the bridge and stream adding iceing to the cake. The same goes for 3&4, the dead tree was the subject.
In he second shot I focused on the branches thus blurring the bridge and stream slightly. The first shot I focused more on the bridge and recomposed/repositioned the shot while holding focus of the bridge, to show the out of focus branches.
To my knowledge I never changed DOF, just used focus to make the differences in the photos. I know that no one sees the same scene in the same way and I guess I'm a little different. I have all kinds of shots of the THE BRIDGE and wanted to try my creativity a little bit. As we say to each his own. This covered bridge along with two more are close by and as I stated I can get shots of the bridges anytime I want.
Call this a learning experience for me, learning to use features of my camera and what affects each play in the BIG picture.
Again thanks for the comments and feel free to comment on what I just typed.
Have a Blessed Day

Moondoggie Loc: Southern California

#1 for me.

Wasabi

1 with 3 a close second. 1shows the subject bridge in sharp focus and the foreground branches add a little environment touch. 3 has two subjects both of basically equal emphasis. The beaver gnawed tree does add a lot but is competes with the bridge and weakens the pull of the lines of the bridge.

domcomm Loc: Denver, CO

#1, but I would move to the right a ways, so it's not as flat-on to the bridge. Shooting it from and angle would increase the interest in the bridge.

Rickey

I'll pick number 3

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

I am going with image #1

boncrayon

shot #1

Don's Leica Loc: Asheville, NC

#1 and 2.