Cunard Line

[Sterling]

I took this on a recent stroll around downtown. What first caught my attention was this old painted sign advertising the Cunard Line. I just thought it interesting to find this old sign in a Canadian prairie city advertising a shipping (as in ships ) company. Then I discovered the large twisted sculpture and thought it looked good against the gold glass high rise.

Anyway, I wonder if I could get some comments on this shot. I like it but somehow don't feel quite satisfied with it. I have considered cropping the bottom 1/4 but I'm not sure if that is the problem. Does the sculpture just compete too much with the painted sign? Maybe they just don't belong in the same shot? What do you think? As always, any constructive criticism is welcomed.

EXIF:
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

[wal]

IMO the sculpture does compete with the sign.... But when viewed again carefully this makes an interesting composition all together, the sculpture, sign with the old building and the new building at the background.

[Sterling]

Thank you for your comments wal.

[CaptainNH]

The juxtaposition of old and new and the straight lines of the building with the curved of the sculpture make for a very interesting image.

The eye is drawn straight to the sculpture though as a result of it's position in the shot.

To bring the focus back to the old brick wall, I'd suggest trying to include more of it in the shot, either by recomposition from the same shot or a more square-on location. Hard to manage at this focal length I know, but the barrel distortion also detracts from the wall.

[jughead]

I agree,my eyes are more attracted to the sculpture...

[freezeframe03]

I find myself looking first at the sculpture then to the building behind the sculpture with the reflection at the bottom half of it. The painted sign does look interesting but the bit of building at the top left corner is a destraction from the sign. I like all the individual aspects of the photo, but all together feels like too much. I don't know for sure, but I think that sign would be great in a close up shot.

[Sterling]

Thank you very much for your comments CaptainNH, jughead, and freezeframe. You've definitely reinforced my intial thoughts that this shot just contains a few too many elements to be cohesive. I'm going to head back there to try some different compositions.

[clicknlearn]

If the sculpture is placed between the old and the new building, there by covering the "Hotel" signboard and giving a good contrast b/w the old and new building. That could also put our eye back on the brick wall.