Remember me? :) Compared to your altered image, I'd say this is better. Of course! Playing with the colors is something that really helps or not helps an image. I have some failure and success examples of that. With this photo, I'd say that you really need to work on contrast. In other words there is no contrast between the background and foreground, it's almost a blend of the same colors. However, I love the originality of your shots. You see beauty in things I wouldn't. Thanks for sharing.
Ashley

I like this one much more. The background could use more color, yes, but it was not good for the fountain, that you've changed the colors.

neat fountain.....the image is a bit washed out I think.

Hello Frankie....There are a lot of good intentions and ideas here....I would have taken a few steps back to get the the base and the top of the fountain into the frame...It would be nice to see the fountain tilted to the left....Saying that, its a nice honest photo and nobody can take that away from you....All the best....Mick

This is a very interesting pic...I see it as a choice in composition...get close (saw off the top and bottom) and show the interesting water trickles, or take a "normal" fountain photo. I am voting for the choice you made because I can get involved in the sculptured aspects of the fountain and the water. I found the tall, thick boards in the garden behind the fountain, as well as the house up on the hill to be distracting. If it were my pic, I'd have a go at cloning out those boards (might be too tough to do) and the house...leaving the paths, the greenery, and the two benches. But I always choose clutter removal over reality in photographs.