Which do you prefer?

The second one, it makes it look like its actually flowing. Still captures the sunlight the same.

I prefer the first one - I hate blurry water (or as those who like it say - silky). It’s just a personal preference and I like images razor sharp from corner to corner. I only rarely use an aperture wider than f/5.6.

Another Alan.

2nd. More even lighting.

Alan,

This is just my personal opinion - take it for what it's worth.

While a long exposure of flowing water works in some settings, like a stream flowing over rocks, I don't think it works in this setting.
The stairs are too sharply defined. The silky water and the sharp steps clash.

Also, the 1/4 exposure washes out the blue of the sky.

Steve Thomas

I agree with Stevet1, and the first one is far more pleasant to look at.

[deleted]

It seems to be customary these days to prefer the effect in No.2; but it is obviously artificial and I prefer No.1, which has more interesting patterns in the water. I mean, the trick of smoothing out the flow is a good one, but I have seen it too often to be taken in any more!

David

@AlanSh
If you can go back and shot it again, I would try between 1/15 and 1/60. To me first one looks like frozen ice. On the second, i do not like when water looks more like fog than like water. This is just my personal preferences, you might see it differently.

I like the first one best, it's IMO a bit more interesting.

I made a Black & White version of your second photo with the PS and LR plugin, Silver Efex Pro 2
… it looks great.
(film effect) ilford Delta 100 Pro (ISO 100)

Color can be distracting and unnecessary at times.
e.g. blood splatter crime scenes. lol

What? Where are the jumping fish?
Coloured first image is my call...

Greg,

That's a good rendition.

Steve Thomas

The seven plugins (.exe & .dmg) for PS Bridge and LR can be found here...
Installer and uninstaller: (slow download) archive.org/details/nikcollection-full-1.2.11

Zero $
Zero serial numbers or registration.
Not warez. lol

I was alerted to this by this Youtube video...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR2ljLNUWJ8

I like the first one, it's more interesting.

I often like blurry water (even when extreme) but also like shots that completely stop all droplet movement.
It's not unusual when faced with a water fall for me to try both 1/1000" & 1/2" (or even slower)

Here the first works better to my eye, there's enough foam to make the image fascinating. (The sky's better too).