I'm torn. I like #1 (darker) better because the background is not too bright compared to the trees. Overall however, #1 is too dark. So I would play with a good overall exposure after pulling down those greens. I imagine you want or would fix the vignetting eventually as you process it.
I prefer the darker over the lighter, but somewhere in the middle, like what blueshadows did, would be even better. Your versions appear soft and need a little sharpening and contrast to really enhance the stark nature of those trees.
Wow, thanks for all the replies! No clear winner, though the dark version has an edge. Jo commented about my version being soft. I applied some negative clarity in order to soften the grasses. I wanted the emphasis to be on the tree branches and I thought the grasses also being sharp detracted from that and made it look too busy overall.
I'll try for a more "between" result and omit the vignette.
I started from scratch and didn't soften anything this time. There's no vignette. I've been messing with it too long, I think. Can't decide if I miss a little vignetting or not. I fear it is getting that "busy" look I wanted to avoid. What do you all think? Is this an improvement or should I go back to the drawing board again?
