Fern No. 1

I prefer the first that you posted. This image impresses me as being more chaotic then the first that you posted. I make this assessment because of the shapes within the image..there is more of a mixture of "edges". This leads to proportionally less positive to negative space and hence I perceive an imbalance.

Both images are candidates I believe for nice prints, I see absoulutely nothing chaotic
about #1 I see it as simply different and could very well stand on it's own. #2 has a better over all scale of tone in my opinion which makes it appear to kind of reach out to the viewer. #1 has potential, but the print needs some punching up. Perhaps a bit more contrast. The image on my monitor appears softer than I think it should be.

Charlie.......................

I agree with Donald on this one. I think your first fern was the the one to go with, this one doesn't seem to hang together quite as well.

Tony