Having trouble with a crop

[Cheex]

I was in love with this picture when I first started working on it but now I'm starting to think it's not as powerful as I want it to be.

In a large version you can see a white tiger in the blue glass window through the cave. It's really cool. I've worked hard casting some gold on the floor up to the palace and tried to create a definite mood.

Now I can't decide which crop is best for the picture... I like them both for different reasons. Any ideas would be appreciated.

If you think the picture totally sucks and is beyond repair feel free to tell me that too.

 

[dots]

The second one. Much more impact, imo.

 

[analog.universe]

I do like the mood, and I think the composition succeeds in drawing your eye toward the subject. However, I feel like overall they lack the impact you want because the subject feels very small and far away. If they were about the space, they'd be great, but instead you're led through the space to a scene that's a little hard to make out. It might be a different story if it was large though.. not sure..

For what it's worth I like the second one better because I don't think those stairs are really contributing in the first, despite the cool colors.

 

[Cheex]

Thanks a lot for the analysis. I think when printed largely it will really pull the viewer in. It's not a great image for the web.

 

[Wardy1987]

Imo i would say #2 however i am new so what would i know lol.


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=53.137079,-1.223524

 

[FireRunner]

The second photo has better composition. In the first photo the blue doors in the center of the photo make it look boring. The second photo looks more interesting with the image off set w/the rule of thirds...