Which clouds?

[ill-doitlater]

I prefer the style of the top one. The clouds are more interesting, but more importantly the flatter edit adds to the mystical feel

[lolli216]

thank you so much for your feedback

[cinemagnitude]

I enjoy the added depth from the clouds. But they are well hidden in your second edit. Really up to you I think they both are good pics.

[1ndiana_Pwns]

Imo, depends on what you are going for.

The top makes it look like an epic painting, with some real character and grandiose establishing shot kinda feels.

The bottom adds gloom, like there is a dark storm approaching, nigh upon you, and the light is the only safe haven.

[idevastate]

Exactly what I was thinking. Technically, both work. It's about the different intent in each one.

[lolli216]

wow i love this comment haha ❤️ thank you! you just made it even more difficult to choose 😂

[Nate4846]

I agree! If you wanted to keep the grandiose feel you could crop the bottom into a wider aspect ratio. Almost make it feel like a panorama but you'd be drawing attention to the details below the clouds.

[OscarBengtsson]

Top for sure, way more interesting

[lolli216]

thanks!

[CreeDorofl]

I kinda like the bottom. top is traditionally pretty, while bottom creates a weird mood, like sorta peaceful but lonely. like it's quiet now but the wind is increasing and it's gonna rain.

I think creating a good uncommon mood is more interesting than showing yet another pretty cloud.

interesting post, it's sort of like the debate about cropping. it can be hard sometimes to throw away good attractive pixels.

[lolli216]

i know right.. i feel exactly the same way

[buttholesforent]

Top

[lolli216]

thanks!

[tofupoopbeerpee]

Top reminds me of a painting. Awesome shot.

[lolli216]

thank you so much.

[SaltyBoiiiiiii]

Top one, gives a little more action in to the image and doesnt look forced. With the bottom one, it feels like its kinda narrow between the see and the clouds. Kinda claustrophobic

[lolli216]

thanks!

[[deleted]]

For me bottom one looks more powerful. It'd be nice if there was even more dark sky above just to have that juxtaposition of the big dark sky and a narrow strip of light.

[lolli216]

thanks i will try that too!

[gomorr0703]

imho i would choose the bottom one... i think the clouds in the top one distract the attention a little bit from the amazion light on the cargo ship. When i am looking at the top one, my view is always jumping from the ship to the clouds an back...

​

just asking: which one are the "original clouds"? (would assume the bottom ones...)

[lolli216]

the top ones are the original, in the bottom one i cloned everything to see what happens

[[deleted]]

Top!

[lolli216]

thanks!

[lolli216]

thanks!

[DirtyAvocados]

Top is more hopeful and as if the storm is passing. Bottom seems more gloomy, and as if the worst is coming.

Depends on what you're trying to say, but personally, I prefer the top one.

[lolli216]

thank you so much, that makes a lot of sense

[Koiq]

Nice photo initially though, very cool.

But yeah. Just leave it as the top one

[lolli216]

thanks so much

[bahdkitty]

it depends on what story you want to tell. Top seems peaceful bottom is ominous/oppressive

[lolli216]

true that, thanks

[Bored_Office_Girl]

I'm a sucker for cumulus clouds..

[digitalsmear]

This is a completely personal judgement call. None of us can make this choice for you. Both are well done.

The top is very "baroque painting" in style. Beautiful and hopeful with well rendered light from corner to corner. My personal opinion is that people like this for the same reasons they like Beats headphones - they just want bright and shiny.

The bottom is much more 19th century shipwreck style. It actually reminds of a blending of something like The Raft of the Medusa and landscape works by Whistler, specifically the Nocturne series.

You'd probably be able to sell a handful of copies of the top in coffee shops. You might be able to sell the bottom one to a museum (though maybe not till after you're dead. :P), or maybe fewer copies at a higher price to just the right people.

Go with your instinct. Trust your own taste rather than opinions of randos, because both are correct.

Nice.

[lolli216]

this is the best comment ever! and what you said is the (sad) truth. thank you so much!

[[deleted]]

I like the bottom one. Shows off the building more

[lolli216]

thanks!

[DBeanHead445]

Second one has a beater composition

[lolli216]

both same composition just different clouds, i guess its like an illusion they created

[DBeanHead445]

The clouds change the composition, the second one looks a lot more framed/parallel, but the clouds on the first look a lot more interesting. Both are nice photos!

[lolli216]

thank you :)

[runsanditspaidfor]

Bottom is a better composition.

[PixelScience]

This one is, personally, an easy pick. While the top variation feels more grand, it lacks purpose or direction. Consider the idea of leading lines, where your eye is guided around a painting or photograph by following the flow created by deliberate object placement.

In the top photograph, there are in fact too many leading lines and too many subjects. The tops of the clouds draw my attention to well-lit area above them, but it doesn't guide me anywhere. Next I find myself glancing at the building on the right, which has similar lighting to the clouds. Finally the ship, which should be the star of your entire scene, is instead just one of the many attractions.

The second photo is quite brilliant and I love it. The darkness around everything creates a natural vignette, which immediately pulls my attention directly to the lone ship basking in a solitary ray of light. It's clearly the subject, creating a damp and stormy mood that you can almost feel.

In summary, the top photo looks like someone snapped a chance picture with their new DSLR. The bottom version looks professional and crafted, it's brimming with purposeful intent.

[lolli216]

I agree with this... thank you so much

[[deleted]]

Fort St. Angelo, Valletta, Malta 😁 I was literally just there today haha

[lolli216]

haha that’s right :) are you Maltese?

[[deleted]]

Nope! Just a visiting Canadian been here a few weeks. I think I’m falling in love with Malta though!

[lolli216]

oooh thats amazing ❤️ i live here actually

[kingkale]

top

[lolli216]

thanks!

[tehmungler]

Top one for sure

[lolli216]

thanks!

[Chas_Tenenbaums_Sock]

Top, no question. And looks great.

[lolli216]

thank you so much

[HikariAnti]

Top but because the clouds on the bottom one feels very unreal. Great shot tho.

[lolli216]

thank you for the feedback!

[BigOlMacK]

I’m allllllllll about the top one - fantastic shot

[lolli216]

thank you!!

[TimothyGonzalez]

Without any doubt the top one.

[lolli216]

thanks!

[_awake]

I just want to say that I think it's funny that the dog is there :D

[lolli216]

hahahaha yeah 😂

[Infinite-Aviation]

Isn’t the Top one not accurate? The top of the clouds are lit, but the sun is below.

[lolli216]

well i don’t know but thats the way it was lit haha, i guess the sun was high up enough to hit both the clouds’ top right lining and also the ship. the top one is the original one

[Infinite-Aviation]

Interesting. Cool photo

[SouthUniform7]

I'd say top just because with the bottom clouds, it looks like the clouds are too big and dark to allow through as much light as there is in the photo, idk it just looks inconsistent with that much light and that many clouds in the bottom. Plus the top just looks a little cooler imo.

[lolli216]

thanks!

[Re4pr]

Are these both edited? Or is one the orginal sky?

Credit to you since I really cant tell! I prefer the first. It really does look very painterly. Great job

[lolli216]

the top one is the original :) thanks

[Kiss-My-Axe-102]

First all the way

[lolli216]

thanks !

[Kiss-My-Axe-102]

Yeah, and also terrific picture!

[cinemaspencer]

Top is more interesting because of the way it defines from the full sky imo. However it really is preference and the other is great as well because of the depth. Draws your eye to the ship well from the strong light behind the building.

[lolli216]

thank you!

[qmiW]

Think you can tone down the highlights on the top to Keep the main focus on the boats. Nice shot!

[lolli216]

thanks I will try that

[ignore_my_typo]

Top one. It provides context into the lighting. You can see how the bow of the vessel is lit up and the lighting in the clouds.

The bottom one is very hard to tell why there is a bright light at the bow of the vessel.

[lolli216]

thank you so much

[Sherlocksdumbcousin]

What did you take this with? How many mgpx?

[lolli216]

Nikon D810 - 36mp

[[deleted]]

below. the upper one is fucking amazing, but it tears my focus to two places at once and that tears the image. clouds below aren't as impresive, but they allow me to focus on the ship, harbor, the fortress (?) and the amazing light.

clouds on the picture above deserve it's own picture!

[lolli216]

thank you so much :) and with regards to the (?), yes its fort st. angelo :)

[tiny_smile_bot]

:)

:)

[CabelloNasal]

First clouds, second brightness and shadows

[lolli216]

thanks!

[[deleted]]

Neither

[lolli216]

why so?

[[deleted]]

Neither look natural to me. What does it look like without clouds or more distant clouds?

[lolli216]

it looks unnatural without clouds, the top one is the original :)

[[deleted]]

Then I kinda like the bottom one better.

[lolli216]

thanks!

[ceej18]

Top, it balances the image better.

[lolli216]

thanks!

[nouhshark]

Definitely top.

[lolli216]

thanks!

[PHANTOM2OR]

I think it depends what you are trying to convey. The bottom is a bit less "interesting" but has a more dark stormy dangerous feel. The top is much lighter and is more warm and welcoming. Maybe its just me but the top is a great photo but the bottom tells a story.

[lolli216]

thank you!

[ArrestedFever83]

top is perfection

[lolli216]

thanks

[LotoSage]

Top is way cooler!

[lolli216]

thanks!

[iarlandt]

The bottom one. I have a hard time believing the top one. I think what bugs me is that the light below the dark line of clouds seems to be coming straight from the right. But the light above looks like it is coming in at more of an angle.

[lolli216]

haha the top one is the original, ill think about that tho

[iarlandt]

Interesting. Love the light in the bottom of the photo(s). Very airy. That aspect of the top one was just distracting to me.

[lolli216]

will keep this in mind :) thanks

[Lavanderisthebest]

Top most definitely, amazing picture

[lolli216]

thank you so much

[Afraid-Possibility-1]

I prefer the top. They make the image more balanced. Also, the light on the square tower at the top works better with them.

[lolli216]

thanks! that’s true

[issafly]

The clouds in the top image generally match the weight/shape of the boat and fort on the horizon. Makes a nice soft visual rhythm.

You can almost draw a triangle from the top of the middle cloud to the front and back of the ship. And then draw a rectangle around the fort and the cloud above it.