Two-ish black & whites and a question for everyone:

[JeffR]

Which is better (or is either any good) of these versions of the same photo?

Uncropped original:



Or portrait crop to the original aspect ratio:



Any thoughts as to which version is better? I like the second, but it's such an extreme crop, it sort of betrays the honesty of the Thrifty 50 it was shot with.

This one is the real thing, with me actually exerting my lazy ass to tip the camera over 90 degrees before actually taking the photograph:

[pipoman]

1. I like the second too

I don't feel that the gates in the foreground add to the image on the first. In the second, the hall way produces a vignette like effect. If I were going to do anything to the second at all, I might lighten up the lantern just a little, it is an interesting part of the shot. Nicely shot Jeff.

[JeffR]

10. Great idea, pipoman.

I was so busy obsessing about the crop, I didn't pay any attention to anything else.:crazy:

[Richard D]

2. I prefer the first.

I like the gate being there. Makes it into a story. Why are they open, where is it being taken, why is the man walking away. It adds mystery to the shot for me.

[JeffR]

11. Thanks. That does mark a big difference between the two versions.

I'm thinking maybe a different crop will work better than version 2.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. They're both very nice renditions,

but I personally like the first better, just for the perspective, kind of the light at the end of the l-o-n-g tunnel.

[JeffR]

12. Does seem appropriately metaphorical these days.

:)

[Blue_In_AK]

17. We're just full of metaphors, aren't we?

:rofl:

[Adsos Letter]

4. I prefer the first...

because the distance separating the viewer from the person in the photo is more appealing to me; however, I do find the gates a bit distracting. if there were a way to crop and keep the distance...

Still, as others have noted, a very nice, emotive shot Jeff.


Thrifty 50?

EDIT: I also find the first shot appealing in that the "distance" de-emphasizes elements that tend to fix the subject in time; the longer shot seems a portal into the past, almost Dickensian.

Some definite synchronicity with my current state of mind.

.

[JeffR]

13. Your edit comment makes a lot of sense.

Thanks!

[Adsos Letter]

5. On a lighter note...

I see a giant, demented hamster peering out of that window in the third shot...it may be time for me to talk to someone... :D

[Blue_In_AK]

6. Maybe it's one of those huge rodents -- what do they call them?

Here he is -- a CAPYBARA

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

7. shhh, it's okay... I see it too

just don't annoy it... maybe it will go away

[Adsos Letter]

19. AND IT HAS A SNAGGLETOOTH!!!

( *insert piercing scream here* )...SNAGGLETOOTH HAMSTER! FLEE FOR YOUR LIVES!!

...help me...

:D

[JeffR]

14. When Nancy looked at it, she thought it was a topless woman.

Talk about the eye of the beholder.

[Blue_In_AK]

18. I can kind of see that, too...

with a tan line.

[Mira]

8. So it's a Hamster - I thought it was rotating laundry. About the preference:

I prefer picture one. I like the depth, the additional information, the intrigue. I actually in this case would crop enough off the right to dead center the light fixture. Just in this case.
LOVE the picture.
Where is it?

[JeffR]

15. Good suggestion, thanks.

This was taken at Victoria College at the University of Toronto back in December.

[dbmk]

9. The second

Had the gates not been there in the first, I am pretty sure I would have gone for that. The one on the left particularly.

[JeffR]

16. The DOF was inappropriate for the shot, I guess.

Thanks. Back to the drawing board with this one.

[Adsos Letter]

20. You know...I can see the topless woman now...

Blue's right, she really needs to be using sunscreen...

[sandnsea]

21. First I liked the second one,

but then today, well now I like the first one.

The other day I remember liking the feeling of walking with the man into whatever the city has to offer.

But today, the first one is more like you're shooting a glimpse of the man, catching him in his solitude, perhaps loneliness.

So maybe it depends on your mood.

[ConsAreLiars]

22. The first, definitely

OK, well maybe. There seems (my monitors suck) to be enough shadow detail in the tunnel area to keep that part of the image interesting, and the relative smallness of the figure within the image seems to be part of what makes the the photo compelling. To me the vertical just looks like street scene with a novel framing.

(edit to add) You might consider cropping out part of the rectangular bright areas on the left, and also at the top, so moving the figure up and to the left, and darkening the verticals on the right, and seeing if that appeals to you.

[Tindalos]

23. The first one. Maybe.

I think I'd like the second one if the tunnel were longer. It frames the subject nicely and the dark shadows add a bit of age and mystery to the scene. Maybe a crop between the two, that leaves more of the tunnel visible?