Thanks so much guys for your input!!!! so far, the responses in my gallery have been to leave it the way it is. since composition is something i'm so weak on, i'm trusting you guys! i'm really surprised...thought for sure everyone would say to crop it. Marlene, you were talking about balance. do you mean how the dark part on the right balances the white part on the left? well, guess i'll enter it in the contest like in #4 kevin...i still love your crop a LOT...but every has said to leave it the way i did so...i'm gonna enter this one the way i did originally. still might have to print this one the way you've cropped it though! thanks a bunch guys!!!