You have something in mind, you move to make it work and in that moment, it does; but only in that moment. You take the photo you thought you wanted only to realize that it’s missing something.
Heading back from lunch a bit early in order to make use of the light for some quick photos, I spotted a woman in a red hat and decided to see if a photo would work.
I walked in the street along side her, then took this photo and was very happy with it, I liked the slice of light as she peaked out of the shadows and felt satisfied by the image, until she stepped fully into the sun.
Once out of the shadows, her hat and bag became full of rich color and right away I took another photo and that time, it felt right. Both photos are identical in framing, with only a second or two difference in time and sunlight peaking through the clouds. On any other day, I would have gone with the first photo and been happy with it. I don’t like my first photo any less than the second, as they both fit a certain mood. One being geared more towards a dark and moody tone while the other leaning more towards light and vividness.
In the end, choosing which shot works best, is up to you and no one else. Go with what makes you happy.