Can you help me decide between these two compositions?

[David Low]

I would go with the wide view, which puts the spider in context. The close view is more immediately striking, but in my opinion doesn't have as much long term interest.

[Armin Seeholzer]

I see it like mister Graves!

Cheers Armin

[austin granger]

Hey Austin, it looks more like an octopus than a spider. The lights (I assume they are lights) look like suckers.

I still believe that the wider view better expresses what you were attempting to show.

I think you're right about it looking like an octopus Gem, however, there's a sign next to it that says "The Spider," so a spider it is.

Oaks Park in Portland is a fun place to photograph. It's closed down for the winter, and as you can see, the rides are half dismantled (there should be seats hanging from the spider's arms) but it's all open and one can roam around freely. Amazingly, I haven't even been hassled by the security guards-they just wave at me!

Austin

[Jack Dahlgren]

Hello all. I would appreciate your expert opinion here. I like both these shots, and I'm going to print them both, but if you had to pick just one to show someone, which one would it be? Would it be:

1. The wide view

or

2. The close view

Disliking them both is not an option.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Austin

And despite what it looks like on your computer, they are both very sharp.

I'd take the second shot at eye-level for a 3 year old - looking slightly up capturing more of the legs rather than the base of the ride. Maybe go back when the light is better, but that may be several months in Portland... :-)

[Frank_E]

I much prefer the closer view for many of the reasons already stated. Your mind stays more engaged because there is a greater sense of mystery and uncertainty. The fact that the arms extend outside the frame causes you to wonder what else is outside the frame. In this view the tree trunks add a stronger counterpoint. The wide view is too complete, too documentary for me.

[William McEwen]

I vote for the closer view.

It feels like I'm right up against it, and I'm not separated by the fence in the farther view.

[Chris Strobel]

Close view gets my vote too

[icanthackit]

I haven't looked at too many of the other posts, but I would say the close view if it was my work. To me, the wide view looks like a document of a ride at a fair, it shows a place, though it's possible to look at it as a caged creature but I think it would require a couple more images to give that idea to somebody viewing the picture by itself.

The close, tight view can add a more abstract feel to it, and it might fit better into that feeling (should you wish to explore that) with higher contrast.

[Ed Kelsey]

Close view

[Joe O'Hara]

As presented, I prefer the wider image, but if it were my picture and I had a chance to do it again, I would go inside the fence try a shorter lens if possible from a low point of view to get the legs (arms?) to occupy the edges and corners of the frame. In the closer view here I find the highlights on the motor and clutch distracting.