Very much like the color and mood of the shot. The road to the right keeps drawing my attention away from the woman. Also took out some - what I call eye-traps - that pull attention away from the subject. This is just one interpretation. Just my 2 cents worth.
I like the original. Very nice treatment. While the crop has validity, what I miss it the feeling of the desolate beach going on forever. I might consider the lone bird sitting on the beach, but you may find you need him.
I prefer the original as well. The birds that were cloned out add layers of dimension to the shot, in my opinion, keeps me interested in the shot as opposed to a bland group of birds flying with no real distinctive features. The two birds standing out give it texture. I also prefer the wider crop, like dmacmillan said, gives a sense of a beach that goes on forever. Nice shot!!
I'm not a big fan of the toning (personal pref, although it might grow on me), but the lines are pretty killer at the alignment from corners to oblivion, with both sides of beach, footprints and waves going to the same vanishing point.
+1 @ retaining the vanishing point provided by the footprints/beach. Also, the one bird right of the footprints interrupts the path from the corner to oblivion. So since it's on the road to oblivion ... send him there express, via the clone brush. Maybe the low flying bird/reflection on the left as well.
Nice shot.
I prefer the original crop. The toning is a bit unusual to my eye, but adds to the mood. Works well as BW or selenium as Karen has illustrated.
Kent has pointed out the nice job with vanishing point, lines.
Maybe the low flying bird/reflection on the left as well.
