Vines and Fire Escape

[jordanm]

Across from The Salvation Army on Columbia St. in Utica.

Do you think this looks better as black and white? See: http://jordanmeeter.com/photos/2007/03/29-bw.jpg

[yurik]

first, nice photograph. I like the concept of the vines clashing with the stairs.

My critique is that I think the blown out sky and the cut-off light pole add nothing to the photo. In fact, I think they distract the viewer from the main focus. You should crop that area out.

As for color or black and white, I like the color better. I would like the color even more if you tweaked it a bit, added some more color and contrast to it. I think that would create an eye-catching photo.

[Saralonde]

I prefer the b&w. The color version seems pale with a blown out sky. The streetlamp pole on the right is a bit distracting.

[jordanm]

Thanks for the tips. The sky was really overcast, so that's why the sky is so grey. But I agree, I should crop out the lightpole. All of my photos seem to need some cropping in one way or another!
Jordan

[jiminyClickit]

jordanm

After another month of seeing the fine examples on this forum, your eye will start to crop as soon as you raise the camera. It is so much about looking at good composition and translating that into your viewfinder. It may happen before you realize you know what you're doing. But you'll notice fewer people suggesting crops.

On this one, I would take 3/4 of it away, and contrast it till the vines showed stronger. But that's just my eye talking . . .

[marc_714]

I feel that looking at only the vines and fire escape would help. The scene of the long look at the entire building is not importent.