Not my time

A relatively rare snowfall in western Washington lowlands. Comments and suggestions

are always appreciated. Please also comment on an alternative composition I've

shown. Thanks.

Attached is an alternative composition. Maybe it's simply a different photo, but your thoughts on the main photo and/or the choice of one or the other composition would be appreciated. Thanks.

Steve, I like the first better. The angle and placement are better. IMHO. The alternative is too static. I like the way that you have left all the negative space to the left. It's probably more pleasing top we left to right readers.

I too like the original composition. This is very good. Well seen and captured. Stay warm, Amigo! It is in the mid-80s down here. Cheers! Chris

I too prefer the original composition to the other, although both are good. It think it's be better to just view them as "individuals". Beautiful capture in both cases.

I also love the original.....minimalism at its best. Yeah, I've been hearing what a brutal winter you all are having out there! The snow is beautiful, but we're equipped to handle it here in Indiana. When you're not used to it things can come to a grinding halt. Bravo on this image!

The one thing that I greatly regret not doing, and I realized this just a couple of days ago, was to carefully walk to the bench, sit down, then retrace my steps back out. I could have gotten two additional images out of that: one with prints leading in but nothing leading out, and another with all but the two prints near the bench cloned away. It will probably be years before I get to try this. Anyway, thanks for your comments -- I appreciate them.

Simple and beautiful
I like the original composition
Best regards

Nice image Stephen. The original perspective is better than the alternative. This could easily pass as an abstract piece as well. sometimes the simple things in life are often the best. Photography (art) imitates life sometimes. well done

The original has a pleasant mood to it, like you are invited to brush away some snow and sit down for a while, but you can also watch and just pass by. It has a classic comp that never fails. I like it.

I also like the alternate version. It has a quite different feel. The comp catch the attention directly..leaving no room to smootly pass by. Its more like go back or come to me. Bottom line: I think i might like the alternate version best. It has a more challenging and original comp and feel to it.

I really like this simple composition, it becomes a study of line and shape. Very nice!

Simplicity at it best. I also like the original comp it is more inviting and has a softer feel to it IMO. Well done, Leslie

I like both almost equally. I think the symmetry and simplicity of the alternate conveys even more peace and quiet. Still really neat shots.

Thanks for all of the comments. I think that even though it is the same simple bench and the photos were taken moments apart and within a few feet of each other, they are still very different photographs. People (myself included) may find different feelings and therefore different preferences in each. It's quite striking how a little change can have such a significant result (note to self: remember that).

I'm with Younes in that the alt shot is much more calming and peaceful. I prefer it over this one. The symmetry is much nicer IMHO. That being said, they're both photos to be proud of.

I love this original composition. Very powerful. Wonderful crisp lines and contrasts.

I like the original composition too; oh that would have been really good to have the footprints leading up to the bench and the mark of someone having sat there with no visible trace of the person leaving...where did he go...what happened? Oh that would have been really good! I hope you get to try out that idea maybe this winter...Very well done; thank you for sharing. :)

Wow, Stephen.  This seems to take Jimmy Buffett's "Lone Palm" to a different clime:

"And down on the beach there are two empty chairs that say more than the people who ever sit there.  From under my lone palm, I can look out on the day." 

If Buffett's was about a dead marriage, maybe this one is about divorce.

--Lannie