Fire Escape Alley

[dwdufour]

Hello. I figured this would be a good place to make my first post. I shot this about a week ago. I like the way it came out.

From 2/14/10

Shot with Pentax K-X
ISO 1600
f/7.1
1/1250 shutter

Lightly edited in Aperture (burned corners, etc.).

How is the composition? Ultimately, I like the image, but I'm definitely curious about the opinion of others.

Thanks.

[scubajen]

Did you crop this? I want to see more-- especially vertically.

[dwdufour]

No. I didn't crop it. I considered allowing more into the frame, but it didn't make a better composition. I was also on a tight schedule, so I wasn't able to shoot more with that light.

[isfppoet]

This is a really cool composition, and just a great photo. I like the highlights off the bricks on the left near the top.

I think a portrait version might be interesting for this kind of shot, if possible. The reason is that the vertical "stripe" formed by the sky tend to lead the eye back to the fire escape that contrasts so strongly with it.

You could try capturing more of the floor of the alley, still leaving space above the fire escape. It might create more of a "tunnel" kind of effect. Just a thought. I really can't think of anything to criticize.

Another thought I had: the sign in the foreground looks really cool; if you could "scoot" your whole picture over to the right slightly to make it more prominent without blocking the view of the fire escape, that might be neat as well. The symmetry of your current composition is really pleasing though. Nice work!