Featherstar on a whip

Hey, I am seeking some comments on composition and the use of black n white for this picture of a featherstar on a whip coral. Also, is it weird to shoot at such an angle as most whip corals are "vertical". Taken with a D200 and Tokina 10-17mm.

Thxs for your time.

I like it, though a vertical orientation with a little crop of the dark end looka a little better to me.

I agree with Loftus. Also, is the banding in the original, or just in this knocked down jpeg? It seems a bit pronounced and therefore a bit distracting, interfering with the central focus of the image; the featherstar. I'd love to see it re-cropped as Loftus suggests.

Thxs Loftus and MatthewAddison. Let me try again and I will post up again. The banding is a result of the lower res uploaded to the web.

I had processed the picture again ... rotating it 90deg and cropping slightly ... Which of the 2 is a better choice ??

I prefer the vertical orientation.

I for some reason like the original ...

.. i think the problem for us divers is that a scene that is re orientated looks odd .. but I am sure to a non diver they wouldn't notice nor feel disorientated by the image on it's side, try it out with some non diver friends ..

.. but looks wise I think i prefer it in landscape orientation.

 

I had processed the picture again ... rotating it 90deg and cropping slightly ... Which of the 2 is a better choice ??

I like it. What do you think? (That's what counts)

The reason why I chose this instead of the rest that I had was that this one had the least clutter in them. Its very clear that the featherstar is the main subject. I had comments that it looked like a coconut tree.

I would have to agree with Giles' comments that every diver had a pre-notion of what is to be expected, just like you wouldn't see a photo of a tree in your garden that is titled 45deg to the horizon. Hence, just trying out what would it be like taking it from a different angle. I must say that I like both equally, but if I am to choose one, than the vote still goes to the landscape version. However, thxs guys for those wonderful comments.