Yep..I'm with you! I think this is the better of the two! A little brighter & I like the barns and snow included in the shot! I vote for this one! *marks ballot "X"

i like this'n better too, PJ!!
shows more of the barn in the back!
all that red makes for some great contrast and accent!

I can almost taste the Syrup, sweet picture.

Ok ok...you asked for my honest opinion (but please realize/realise my credibity is not as good as Mr Adams) so...

I like this one better composition wise...but...there are a lot of blown out highlights....which is why I like the other one better....but....if you made this B&W, things might turn out better. But it seems like ppl who've posted b4 me like the red barn. *shrugs*

I'd go with this one. :)

PS: I forgot to say, B&W would make the barn less distracting...right now my eye goes straight to the barn instead of the subject; IMHO, of course.

I don't agree about b/w. For Yankee mag, I think you need the color. You can always desaturate the barn a little, but I don't think it's necessary at all. I think the whole scene is very NE in character, red barn included. Go with it, PJ!

Mmmmmm, I like the other one better. The structure of the barn has a more old fashioned appearance in the other one. In this one it looks more modern. Plus the tree looks larger in the other shot and the cans (?) are more viewer friendly. The other one has more detail I guess. Lol. Both are good but I put in my vote for the the first one.

I reckon that tree is almost as old as i feel after my night shift !!. I agree with you having the surrounding perspective gives this photo more appeal (for me).
Well done.
Steve

Two wonderfully presented images of a Sugar Bush?..sorry, I am not familiar to this custom!...It totally new to me!...what is it they do...suck the sugar from the trees or what!..or sweeten the coffee's with it?.....~Help!~

I had a hard time deciding, but I think I'd go with this one.
What great memories this brings back to me. About 35 years ago I was on staff at a youth camp near Owen Sound, Ontario,and in the spring we tapped the trees on the property the old way ... like in your picture. We gathered the sap in big oak barrels on a sleigh pulled by a team of Percheron work horses. Folks would come to watch the process, and have some of the "sugar on snow", which we did the normal way ... drizzle it on the snow outside the sugar shack.

Thanks for sharing these images, and rekindling some great memories for me!
It was not nearly as efficient as the modern way using tubing, and I certainly wouldn't want to try to make a living using the old methods, but it sure was fun and picturesque!

Lovely pic, Well done:-)

Nice tree shot, but what is a sugar bush? I like the contrasts here. Good shot.

Andy :0)

Undoubtedly this one is preferable to the other, PJ, because:
a) It is clearer.
b) when it is printed, a clearer picture always comes out better.
P.S. I love maple syrup - we get them only in bottles :). I mix it even with my strawberries! :) :)

What a choice - both excellent - I will go with this one though, it sems to have a better balance and be more 'artistic' .

I agree with LynEve and most others, ths one is
the best,PJ !
John

I would go with this one without a doubt! Composition is better, the sky above and the snow below the rocks make a nice frame that keeps you in the picture and captures you forcing to look at the rest of the image. If you can manipulate the scene a little, I would brighten it some and show some brilliance of the snow against the red barn. Lovely work, as always.

I prefer this one PJ, it has more going on in it. ☺

What a nice shot. It has a lot of color and character.

Jackie

Boy, you must be psychic PJ, lol...you'll see what I mean by that soon...meanwhile, I agree with the others...this is the better of the two, though both are great shots...I like the balance and more of the colorful barn in this one...good work and good luck with your submission.:Pat.

I envy you that fantastic looking forest in the background if thats what it is (wish I had that down a back street here). This is a really crisp snap and IS a fantastic desktop, so tah very much.
Gareth

The stone wall is a great foreground and the barn is well placed to me.Your colors here seem perfect and natural.Nice balance.!!.

I like this one more. Maybe it is because of the rule of thirds and maybe just without a special reason, but this one is nicer. Interesting image by the way also.

Beautiful Work PJ,
its up to people like us to ensure these kind of scenes are captured forever, future generations need our history. Keep it up.
Stan

for sure this one! i'd love to encounter this little scene. well done.

let us know how you get on with your submission! i prefer this one too, the wider view is better!

P.J. I like this one best. I checked both out and to me this is a better pic. <> Good luck and let us know ok.

♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ :)sandi ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫

I would say this one PJ! I looked at both of them several times and I much prefer things to be off centre and this is more off centre - I am going on first impressions and that is what I thought! both are excellent - good luck!

Love that pure maple syrup! Great capture. Definately fewer, and fewer people everywhere tapping into those old sugar bushs. A+. =)

~This one PJ...I like the clarity, compo, and colors.
:)

What gorgeous contrasts you have captured here...The whole scene just makes one feel the cold and feel the warmth..that will come from the syrup...nice shot...verena

It is a little late for me to be commenting, but I do prefer this shot because it has the tree a bit off center and a fuller view of the barn. Good luck with your submission.

Prefer the composition of this too - agree with above, and sharper clean view on right :-)