Which photo would you enter in a photo contest (Page 7): Thanks Jake!

pedalmasher Loc: Seminole, FL

Ugly Jake wrote:

I concur - #1 is more distinctive - unusual perspective.

Thanks Jake!

amehta Loc: Boston

buddah17 wrote:

I would choose the second one, to me it's "no contest"
Why? I feel photography wise, it's the better work..
The first shot:
Beak is out of focus
The main thing that draws you in (the eyes) is unbalanced because of the awkward position of the neck making the overall balance to look off.
The second shot :
Well balanced
Better composition
More pleasing to the eye

Interesting perspective. I can't say why I agree or disagree, but I'm definitely thinking about these points a lot. :-)

Chinaman Loc: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

What a hard decision. I suggest you toss a coin as they are both winners. The judges will not have the benefit of comparing the two images to say which is better. Good luck.

amehta Loc: Boston

pedalmasher wrote:

I am seriously considering entering one of these t... (show quote)

Thanks for posting these, it reminds me why I don't enter contests. :-)

I completely agree about aluminum prints. I got one done through SmugMug, I think Bay Photo is the lab, and it's stunning.

VisualVirtue

#2 is more interesting to me. Can you or anyone else tell us what this is?

pedalmasher Loc: Seminole, FL

Chinaman wrote:

What a hard decision. I suggest you toss a coin as they are both winners. The judges will not have the benefit of comparing the two images to say which is better. Good luck.

Thanks for your input Chinaman.

pedalmasher Loc: Seminole, FL

VisualVirtue wrote:

#2 is more interesting to me. Can you or anyone else tell us what this is?

Thanks VV. It's a double-crested cormorant. This is what a baby looks like. Again, got some eye contact! :)

Kickle Loc: Central Illinois

These are both great shots. I lean toward #2 as being the best photo of the bird. I generally don't like head-on shots of birds because of the foreshortening of the beak. However, if you are going for emotional impact (which is often what wins a contest) then I would go for #1. I feel like this is your favorite - if so, you should go for it. I think it depends on what kind of contest you are entering and whether you think your judges will go more for the impact or realism.

Kickle Loc: Central Illinois

These are both great shots. I lean toward #2 as being the best photo of the bird. I generally don't like head-on shots of birds because of the foreshortening of the beak. However, if you are going for emotional impact (which is often what wins a contest) then I would go for #1. I feel like this is your favorite - if so, you should go for it. I think it depends on what kind of contest you are entering and whether you think your judges will go more for the impact or realism.

Harry Thomas Loc: Doylestown, Pennsylvania

The first one.

pedalmasher Loc: Seminole, FL

Kickle wrote:

These are both great shots. I lean toward #2 as being the best photo of the bird. I generally don't like head-on shots of birds because of the foreshortening of the beak. However, if you are going for emotional impact (which is often what wins a contest) then I would go for #1. I feel like this is your favorite - if so, you should go for it. I think it depends on what kind of contest you are entering and whether you think your judges will go more for the impact or realism.

Thanks Kickle. Interestingly, when I was going through the day's shoot, I almost fell off my chair when I came to the first one. I went by #2 with hardly paying any attention. Then after totally falling in love with #1, I decided to re-visit #2 and began to more appreciate it. I was lucky enough to have a very fruitful day on that particular shoot so #2 got lost among the hundreds of shots that I made. But yes, #1 is my definite favorite and just received a metallic print of it from Adorama that literally jumps off the aluminum.

pedalmasher Loc: Seminole, FL

Harry Thomas wrote:

The first one.

Thanks Harry.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

#1 for me also - both are terrific shots!

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I would love to be able to take either one of them! But I like #1 best because of the eye contact (as so many other people have mentioned).

pedalmasher Loc: Seminole, FL

ecobin wrote:

#1 for me also - both are terrific shots!

Thanks Elliott!