The points about the lighting and movement of objects in space are of course very good observations for the flow/continuity of shots and for helping the audience locate where they are. When seeing something for the first time, though, it's also important to have the revealing sequence done properly - a "grand entrance", especially if it's of something important. And just in my humble opinion, it would feel more dramatic if the shadow were the first reveal of the Executor, rather than first seeing its blue bridge (a bridge we have already seen before, therefore only suspecting it to be just another SD, along with the others we see in this same shot). I view the entering bridge as a ploy, to remind you just how big these are on the SDs, only to soon show it being engulfed by a shadow.
*If* we actually saw a part of the Executor before seeing that shadow, it'd be more expertly-done if it wasn't of something we are already familiar with (the bridge). But what else without mimicking the beginning of ANH? This is why I believe the shadow is the perfect starting point, because it is showing us something new without first showing exactly what it is; from there, it is gradually revealed, more and more, what this new monstrosity is.
This kind of revealing could also be comparable to when we view the AT-AT reveal...
First, the Rebel troops look out to an empty snow horizon, but they see nothing (we instantly begin anticipating something will happen here - all we know is there will be a "surface attack").
Later, we see that same snowy horizon and this time we do see ambiguous "dots" out there (the audience is now wondering what those are).
Then, we get a (hazy) first-person glimpse via binoculars showing a bit more of what these "dots" are (with this, we learn that these "dots" are actually massive and they are "Imperial walkers").
Finally, we get a much closer and clearer view of these walkers as they begin opening fire (and the battle begins).
Notice the flow and the build up? This has always stood out as outstanding to me. It goes from something very ambiguous/unknown, to gradually teasing us with more until we eventually see the whole object(s). It's this gradual building-up of shots that also builds up the tension, especially when revealing something monumental (To me, the Executor is no exception). It wouldn't make as much sense to mix that AT-AT reveal in any other order (such as first showing the Binocs shot, then showing these "dots" on the horizon, then seeing their full bodies) - You go from very small/unknown to bigger/known.
Even though I could certainly live with and respect Ady's decision if he has the opening bridge as the Executor's (and also having this shot be mirrored, so it's moving from left to right, is a good idea), to me it makes more sense (in terms of the narrative) to let the shadow be the first reveal (something unfamiliar to us, unlike a SD bridge), and from there we increasingly see more of it. Does this make sense to anyone else? Because what's at stake is how the Executor is first revealed to us.
I don't know if he will, but if Adywan were to ever have a poll, it may be better on Facebook where more people can find it and have the opportunity to vote. Maybe if he posted a question along the lines of (without bias): "At the sequence when Darth Vader's massive super star destroyer, the Executor, is first revealed in ESB, which did you interpret as its initial reveal? "Like" if you thought it was that bridge at the opening shot, or "Dislike" if you thought it was that shadow on the Star Destroyer." The problem with a poll is I don't want Ady to feel pressured either way just because of a majority vote, but perhaps it would still be helpful and he could take note. I just want him to choose what he honestly feels will tell this sequence the best.