two takes, one idea, works?

cjt , I definitely like the first one better. Reason is that the text is so much easier to read. I also like the way it starts out small and gets bigger--try making it bigger with each iteration, that might look cool! As to the second page, putting text directly on a busy photo (and red text is very hard to read anyway) makes it so much busier. Also, to me, the font is a bit too decorative for the subject.

I think a gradient over the main photo on the second page, with the top faded, might improve it, but the background on that page is a bit 'in your face'. Not sure I'm describing it well. You could actually use that photo at a VERY low opacity as the background for the first version.

AND, since you started out looking for a snowy owl, I think some resolution of that search ("It was nowhere to be found" or "Nature conspired against our search", something) would tie it all together. I'm sure the real scrapbookers will have better observations and suggestions, but these are mine.

I agree with both Vicki and Jacki and tried to take what I liked from the first image and combine it with the second. I especially liked the larger image at the bottom of the second.....wasn't sure about the red text though.

Thanks, Vicki. I'm guessing there are still some ideas out there and hopefully people will make add other suggestions. I think there might be a better way to make the text stand out against the snow on the bottom.

Helen, putting the two together with the gradient really works for me! May try different dimensions as well.
Choosing a font is one of the things I really don't like doing! Too many choices!!!
cjt

I love a page that tells a story - which you have done well.  My comments are more about the relationship of the photos to each other. There is no reason photos cannot touch each other and even stack on each other. For me, it seems this strengthens the story as your eye goes from one photo to another without seeing space in between.

About text - try to keep it down to two - and the 'rule' is that one is cursive while another is printing - but I'm not sure I follow that rule.

I would like a title (a title will highlight the story you are trying to tell)- or your main text in a bigger font - drawing the eye to the 'topic'. And as already been discussed, text needs to be easily readable. Sometimes that is as simple as changing the color, but often it's the font that needs to be simple - especially if you have a lot of text on a busy background.  Another work-around is putting your text on tags like simple boxes of a lighter color - or using a brush under the text.

And don't forget to date your layout. Unfortunately, I am often guilty of forgetting to date - and when I look back at those layouts, I'm kinda surprised I didn't date. It's such an important factor because - although the occasion is fresh in your mind when you make your layout, months down the road you will forget when it happened.  As you can see in layout 1 - I didn't date it or specify where the photos were taken.  My bad 

I love pages with photos as background. As already been discussed, sometimes it's necessary to lessen the opacity of the background photo to let the other photos shine and to prevent conflict. Sometimes a photo will work at full opacity - when there is lots of non-conflicting areas on a photo such as these two.

Here are a couple of layouts that demonstrate some of my favorite ways of presenting multiple photos. See how they are close together and even overlap.  I was a 'tilting fool' for the longest time, so many of my photos are 'overly' tilted - but I usually do not go back and redo layouts when my way of doing things change - so you will see lots of tilting in my older layouts.  

The photos are mine

Great advice from Janice, especially the bits about rules and breaking them as you please, that's always been the way I've done it😊.
Same goes for dates, places, names, titles and the story you want to tell/remember.

And now you can see why I really love this site! Thanks to you all for great help! I'll have to see where it leads.
cjt