Watch Your Step

[PhotoRebel4]

This is the first shot I've posted for critique. I'm not quite sure it is a landscape/cityscape. If not, mods please move it.

There are two main things I wanted some feedback on. The first is the composition. The stairs are actually on the end of a pier and it's only a square block of concrete with steps in the side, so there wasn't much else to include in the shot. Possibly zoomed out some or cropped?

The other thing is the black and white conversion. I don't do a lot of B&W, but I thought this one looked good B&W. Does it need more/less contrast? More of a certain color?



EXIF:
Camera Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Exposure 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture f/3.5
Focal Length 23 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

Looking forward to hearing your opinions!

[Krusty79]

Right now, my eye goes back and forth between the steps and the broken off section in the upper right. Since you want the steps to be your subject, I would recommend a composition that places less emphasis on the broken off section. Also, I'm not sure what you wanted to convey by showing the steps at that angle. The decay? The lines/shape of the steps? I'd be tempted to get down lower and move to the right so it looks like the steps are leading to the sky. But that's just one way you could go.

As far as the B&W goes, I think it looks good in B&W, but the bright white areas are blown out. If you check a histogram of your image, you'll see clipping at the bright (right) end.