I am going to disagree. I like #1 snow monkey image better. It has a clean view of the monkey’s face and you have a sense of the spirit of this monkey. Whereas in the second image, you see some eyes, but it’s hard for an average viewer to really discern what animal it is–almost too much mystery. Also, I think that the eyes here are looking away. It would have been a much more powerful image if the eyes were looking directly at the viewer or photographer. Then, you would have the sense that you were looking into its soul, as the eyes engaged you directly. Not sure if you are having more sessions with the snow monkeys. I would try the same technique of shooting a face surround by the heads of the other monkeys but wait until the moment when the subject monkey’s eyes directly engage you. In my opinion, I think this would be a more powerful and haunting image. As a reference image, I think most of us would remember, Frans Lanting’s Mountain Lion cover image to one of his earlier books. Where he included just the face with those enchanting and dominant large cat eyes.

Lots more to make the eye wander and the mind wonder.