Opinions on exposure and cropping? Marrakech, Morocco

[Davidovic]

This photo was taken in Marrakech, Morocco, on the central square named "Jemaa el Fna". Every afternoon the people build up the market for the evening. The square is constantly full of people, very lively. On the photo you can see only about 1/4 of it.

This photo is (as far as I remember) unedited. Although I like it as it is, I have been playing around with it and would like your opinion on:

- Exposure: By accident I used ISO 500 (I was inside a building short before taking this picture). Do you think I would have kept more color and detail in the dark areas if I had used a lower ISO?

- Composition: I think I could crop a little tighter to highlight the people in the center of the photo, but I also do like the amount of people shown now.

- In general, what would you do about this one in PP? Perhaps a vignette? Here is a link to a larger-sized photo.
link
Feel free to show your skills

Some more details:

Nikon D80 with 18-55 (photo taken at 55mm)
f14
0.0012s (1/800)
ISO 500

Thanks!

[dcclark]

The only real issue with using ISO 500 might be adding noise -- it really won't affect your color rendition and detail much unless there is too much noise. As I don't really see noise here, it probably didn't change things.

I don't really like the very dark people in the foreground -- they're so much in shadow that they really catch my eye, compared to the distant and hazy tower. Which was your subject -- the people? The tower? The activity? I could see a good photo coming out of each (or even a neat effect with the people deliberately left in shadow, with just a few hilights on them), but together they are competing for my attention.

[Davidovic]

dcclark, thanks for your reaction!

The tower was not my subject, so I was even glad it's hazy, that puts it more in the background I think.
My subject was actually the people building the market stands, not those in the foreground. I agree they take up too much attention. I've tried some different crops without much succes, so I think I'll just have to return there and ask those three guys in the foreground to step aside a little

[Davidovic]

Do you think this is better than the photo in the first post? Less people cluttering the foreground. The only guy in the foreground now leads the eye to the actual subject, which is the "crew" building the market there. At least, that was my idea

[dcclark]

Actually, I think that the crew is still mostly lost... they look cool, but my eye is drawn right to the tower. The fellow in the foreground does help, but he points towards the tower -- and the two guys on top of the market stands also help lead towards the tower. I think you inadvertantly took a good photo of the tower!

Also, there is still a guy hurrying out of the frame on the right...

[Davidovic]

OK, I'll have to settle with a photo of the tower then So be it

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!