the road home II

Two versions to compare, I'm not sure which works best.

Number one, I like it better.

i too like the number one, its softer, yet still give the viewer a sense that the sun is still out and the road is shadowed by the trees,great shot.

Thought I had posted to this earlier but maybe I forgot to hit sumbit.
I like #2 better. In the first one my eye keeps going to brighter spots which aren't the subject.

I like #1 better, the rage of brightness gives it a little drama. You might even try increasing the contrast.

I like the 2nd one better but something bothers me.

I don't know how you coulod get rid of it ... but ... the left side of both photos has a bright area in the trees that seems out of place. I find distracting.

Love the composition ... seems like a road I'd like to take sometime.

It has been a long long time since I have posted a critique, so take this with a grain of salt. I like both of them for different reasons. #1 reminds me of a drive in an early springtime morning, before all the colors come alive. Whereas #2 reminds me of more of a hot summer day when the colors are not as saturated. The only thing that I find that is distracting, is that the road deadends. I wish that there was a little glimps of it as it rounds the bend. Although I do find it a very peaceful picture....I wish I was there.

I like #1 also, seems more like the road home

Thanks everyone.
It's interesting how the same scene shot as RAW with two totally different adjustments has worked.
The dark image is more as my eyes saw it, driving home in the evening.
I tried lightening it with exposure and fill light because I wasn't sure about the darkness and the light patches, they weren't quite where I'd like them (no I'm not going back with a chainsaw).

The light area is the fields on the other side of the valley, and a little bit of sky.

Number 1, Paul. What this scene has going for it, and why i think you captured it in the first place was because of the mood. The darker image with the moody light peering in through the trees is what this scene was all about in the first place. the versionthat has everything exposed looks like a brightly lit day where I would tell you to go shoot this again in a softer light. . .but you have, so no need. thats the one
I might suggest cropping a bit from the left just to the tree to eliminate the bright areas