Should this BIF be cropped?

[Promapper]

I have posted these two images where one is merely a cropped image of the first. I am looking for input as to which is preferred by a non involved person and any feelings or impressions either photo gives you.
most of the day was light to heavy overcast which can be a blessing given the relatively high contrast of the subject.
D500, 200-500 at 500, f 5.6 @ ISO 800

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[bleirer]

The way you cropped it I think pulls the eye right out of the frame. I would pull both the left and right in even more strongly, putting the viewer on the eyes and talons, and take the wings all the way out. This would make it a 'portrait' orientation. You only need to show a little churning water to give a a sense of where you are.

 

[Promapper]

Great suggestion. I am in fact looking towards that "in your face" effect.

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[Craig42]

I agree, the portrait crop is my favorite of the three. Very strong image with the interest from the eyes, beak, talons, and water drops.

 

[Warren D]

While as far as the crop is concerned, I like the close up better, there are a couple of things I don't like that make the full image more appealing. First is the noise. If you can reduce the noise on the close-up it would be a big improvement. This is one thing I don't like about the D500, the pattern that noise renders in. The other issue is that the whites on the head and upper parts look blown out. If they could be recovered, along with the NR, I'd have no reservations with the portrait crop.

 

[Grumpy]

Uncropped for me, my 2¢

 

[FB101]

Uncropped as well (and I would actually go even wider if the original file has any additional info)- the blown-out highlights and the noise make the tighter crops less appealing as those elements become more obvious. As mentioned by others, if you can reprocess it with less /no noise and recover the blown-out highlights then a tighter crop might work.

 

[jeffnles1]

I think it really depends on what you like and the story you're trying to tell with this photograph. I tend to like the first photo best but my personal style is more toward environmental shots than portraits. To my eye, the first photo kind of tells the story of survival. In this case the fish won and the osprey missed a meal.

 

[Gongster]

I agree with everything Warren and Jeff said, uncropped for me.

 

[MorganP]

This look like two different photos to me can't we have both?
The only down side is if you are going to crop the D500 photo you are going to pay a price with more noise.

 

[Promapper]

some great ideas and obsertvations. exactly what I was looking for. this is a re-run from the raw file with just topaz denoise and PS simple sharpening.

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[gaknott]

I favor the close-up but both are worthy photos; in a sense they tell different stories. The wing imbalance of the full view bothers me a bit which pushes me to the close crop. The crop also makes the fierce detail of his talons, beak and eyes really stand out. I also love the water drops that are so obvious. Good capture!

 

[Promapper]

Thanks Greg. I was thinking the same as to different stories, I can always get great comments here.