So, I'm submitting one of these to the literary magazine at school but I don't know what one to send in. Any ideas?
They are nearly identical. Imagine it being in the magazine. If you know where it will be, make a mock page with the picture on it. See which looks better layout-wise.
The top one is darker compared to the bottom one, however the bottom looks more centered rather than askew. I can see what you mean by having a tough time picking between the two. They both look amazing in their own right. I say go for the top one. Despite it being slanted somewhat, I feel the darker tone gives it this feeling that I'm finding hard to express as I type. Also, the waters look like blankets that are covering the sand; referring to the small thin wave at the front of the shot.
