Fallen Clouds - Choices

[Chunk]

Early in January I had the opportunity to watch these clouds flowing through the Lake Fontana area in western North Carolina.
I'm wondering which of these shots you prefer and why. I'd also appreciate any suggestions you may have.

[Chunk]

Some more shots...

[Jaedon]

I like #'s 1,4 and 6 the best as they provide the most detail in the forground and the non clouded area. I love the scenery in all of the images but those are definitely the ones I spent the most time looking at. I think a slight curves/contrast adjustment would really bring all of the images into a different level but that same adjustment on 1,4 and 6 would make tem outstanding images.

[gahspidy]

Chunk, I am drawn to #1 and #3. The overall compositions, and flow of the clouds through the trees in those two work best for me. #2, the clouds just appear to thick and looking like blow-out. #4 looks fine, but appears too busy by comparison to #3 and not as refined in the overall composition. #5 is ok, but the mountain cut off at the top is troubling me #6 is good, but seems to consist of too many layers.
Overall, I really feel #1 and #3 are the strongest.
Good shots

[MarcusK]

Although in their majority, they are all interesting images, i would go for #1 only!

I love the vertical composition, and the transition from top to bottom or vice versa is simply stunning... I fell it expresses most, the location and the emotions it evokes when you are there in person...

Although some tiny adjustments could be in order....they are too small for me to complain, since it might be an issue of screen!

Great shots!

Marc

[Overbeyond]

Very difficult to seperate them and having to scroll to see them does not make it easy to compare
But I might go for 1 and 6. Why? I'm not sure as they all seem fairly similar but it probably is because I can see beyond the misted areas and more of the surroundings are visible.
Must have been nice to have been there seeing this.
Tom

[Greg McCary]

I think that anyone of them with the distant mountain range works. Taking the mountains out removes an element to the photos I think you need. Hope that helps.
Greg

[Chunk]

I like #'s 1,4 and 6 the best as they provide the most detail in the forground and the non clouded area. I love the scenery in all of the images but those are definitely the ones I spent the most time looking at. I think a slight curves/contrast adjustment would really bring all of the images into a different level but that same adjustment on 1,4 and 6 would make tem outstanding images.

Thanks, Jaedon, for taking the time to analyze these.
While preparing them I did use a curves adjustment. I think that more contrast than this starts losing the filminess of the clouds which I like. The aerial perspective seemed lessened too. A good suggestion though and I appreciate it.

[Chunk]

Chunk, I am drawn to #1 and #3. The overall compositions, and flow of the clouds through the trees in those two work best for me. #2, the clouds just appear to thick and looking like blow-out. #4 looks fine, but appears too busy by comparison to #3 and not as refined in the overall composition. #5 is ok, but the mountain cut off at the top is troubling me #6 is good, but seems to consist of too many layers.
Overall, I really feel #1 and #3 are the strongest.
Good shots

Thanks Gary, I'm glad to know your thoughts. Of these the Isolated islands of hilltops in #7 has been my favorite and I am glad that I am getting a feeling for what others like...sometimes you can be too close to the trees.
The zigzagging composition in #1 is also one I liked better. My eye feels like a pinball running through there.

[Chunk]

Although in their majority, they are all interesting images, i would go for #1 only!

I love the vertical composition, and the transition from top to bottom or vice versa is simply stunning... I fell it expresses most, the location and the emotions it evokes when you are there in person...

Although some tiny adjustments could be in order....they are too small for me to complain, since it might be an issue of screen!

Great shots!

Marc

Thanks Marcus, it's good to know what you think.

[Chunk]

Very difficult to seperate them and having to scroll to see them does not make it easy to compare
But I might go for 1 and 6. Why? I'm not sure as they all seem fairly similar but it probably is because I can see beyond the misted areas and more of the surroundings are visible.
Must have been nice to have been there seeing this.
Tom

Thanks for your thoughts Tom.
It was nice to sit there for about a half hour and watch the scenery change. I was in the area during the last few days of a friends fight with cancer and that hiltop was a good place to be right then. Several shots from that trip will always be special to me and I am not sure that my judgement of them is always seperated from the emotions so it's good to have someone to bounce them off of.

[Chunk]

I think that anyone of them with the distant mountain range works. Taking the mountains out removes an element to the photos I think you need. Hope that helps.
Greg

Thanks for taking the time to comment Greg. You make a good point.