Using lines as a composition element

[gammada]

Would like to know your opinion on this shot I took this past week. Specifically, I want to know if you think the composition is good considering the lines on it or what would you do to improve it.

Don't have that much of a pro camera (Nikon 5700E) but am trying to do my best with manual settings and my imagination.

Did some post-editing in Aperture.

Thanks in advance for your time and suggestions.

CAMERA : E5700V1.1
METERING : SPOT
MODE : M
SHUTTER : 1/125sec
APERTURE : F5.0
EXP +/- : 0.0
FOCAL LENGTH : f8.9mm(X1.0)
IMG ADJUST : STANDARD
SENSITIVITY : ISO200
WHITEBAL : AUTO
SHARPNESS : NORMAL
DATE : 03.09.2009 19:27
QUALITY : 2560x1920 FINE
SATURATION : 0
FOCUS AREA : TOP

[Visions]

Originally Posted by gammada

Would like to know your opinion on this shot I took this past week. Specifically, I want to know if you think the composition is good considering the lines on it or what would you do to improve it.

Don't have that much of a pro camera (Nikon 5700E) but am trying to do my best with manual settings and my imagination.

Did some post-editing in Aperture.

Hello Gammada, You have a perfectly good camera so you don't have to apologize for it. Its the person that holds it that makes it good or bad.

I like the composition of your lines - However when you have such strong leading lines you do need something definite for them to point to. It would have been even better if that person in the yellow had walked down and stood or made some interesting pose at the end of the second step. Next time take a friend along with you and ask them to sit on the step or whatever (depends on what you are trying to show). In this case it is the lines so the pose would need to be simple so that it is the lines you see first then by following them you see this interesting figure at the end.
Nice framing for your picture. You will do well.
AJ

[dcclark]

Agree with the above. In addition, the sky on the top is really just dead space here: the lines only take up the bottom portion of the phoot. You might recompose to include more of the steps (and a subject on them, as mentioned by AJ), and less of the sky. Don't remove it entirely, but it really isn't an important compositional element, so it should be minimized.

[evejam]

Just wondered if the writing on the roof would have benefited the picture if it wasn't clipped off? Maybe a lower viewpoint with a wider angle may have benefited the photo?

I am not a pro but I find the fact the writing has been clipped distracting for me.

I do like the strong lines though.