thanks for all the comments, but please note that this photo is part of a series:
www.flickr.com/photos/malana-lars/sets/72157604383...

Maybe it's just because I have taking to the square crop more and more in my own work, but I think the square format works for this image. Sure a landscape cropping might emphasize "empty space" more, but I think that still comes across the way you've done it here. It's a really nice photo.

Lars, thanks for sharing the link to the collection. I would make the same composition comment about the whole series. This type of subjects, it seems to me, feels "cramped" or restricted in a square format. Just my opinion.

Lars, very interesting series. Although this shot is strong on its own as is (colours, detail and foreground are fabulous), I would also prefer the main subject to be offset from centre to give the feel that it is a bit more isolated (preferably to the right so your eye has to travel across the frame and up the stairs). It just seems a bit too contrived with the current composition. Looking at your comments above is interesting given that you have invited critique.

Great picture, I love the isolated feeling of the shot. The fact that you can't see the tide anywhere adds to this i think and i especially like that...

I really like this image a lot. Have you tried dodging some of the spectators just a bit to bring them out a little more? Great job.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I agree with most that the lower 1/3 of the image is too dark. For most displays the contrast is just too low here. I played with this for days and the more I tried to lighten it the worse it got. There just isn't enough there to boost it much more than I have. This image does look great printed though, so overall I am happy with it.

Oh and I should also point out that this is a self portrait. That's my big head in the way there. The purpose of the image was the silhouette not the fireworks. Something I have wanted to do for a long time.

This is a great shot. I would crop it off just below the horizon. I might even crop into the top of the fireworks which would give the viewer a clearer story.

VERY nice, missed this one, really well done. I do agree with the comments about a little too much at the bottom. How long was this exposure?

Thanks Beamer.

Lens: 18 mm | Aperture: f 7.1 | Shutter: 15 sec | ISO: 100

The three fireworks were in succession not at the same time. This was the only one I jumped in front of that night. All my friends (sitting in front of me) had a good laugh at me for not watching the fireworks. I was too busy "working".

Just playing around a bit with some of the old slides that I scanned a couple of night ago. Sorta a happy accident thingy, what do you guys think??

definitely a happy accident thingy

j'ai beaucoup de mal avec cette photo, il y a une tres bonne idée, mais je trouve la photo trop chargé, pour moi pas lisible. mais c'est un essai, et il faut en faire pour faire des découvertes photos

My first thought was what the heck is this... but on closer look, it's kind of trippy in a pleasing kind of way.

I really like all the textures you've created here. Adds a real depth to the image.

This shot creates a great feeling of space. I agree with needing a bit more sharpness of the mountains tho.

I like this shot. I would crop 30% from the right side and 20% from the top. Then pull some more detail out of the hills so that we can see them layering on top of each other. I think that you can crop and still preserve the sense of space. Hope that helps. You have a great shot to work with.

the mountains catch my eye much better than the boat...i think perhaps focus more on that--the detail is great, esp in the distant one

I really like the feeling in this photo, it would fit in the empty spaces topic very well!

Thank you all for your comments! I appreciate all of the feedback.

This was a particularly foggy/hazy day in the mountains so that's why a lot of the detail is lost. I think it adds an almost surreal feeling to it, but agree that sharper details in the background would have been nice!

I like the contrast in colors, and I also like where you placed the door in the photo. To me this photo expresses abandonment very well, not sure if that was your intention but that is what I got! Great job!!

Narnold,

Thanks! That was the feel I was going for, I'm glad I was able to pull a little of that out of you! ;)

Thank you. :)

This has nice character and tones, but doesn't really do much for me. Maybe if you had shot this more oblique you would have created more impact/drama. This straight-on composition doesn't seem to make any for me.

Like Clyde, this shot doesn't do a lot for me. The tones are nice and I see what you're trying to do with it. The only two small suggestions I'd have are maybe widen the view a bit (assuming it didn't introduce other things to "clutter" the scene)... and I am a bit distracted by the fact that the wall on the left side of the door is a bit distorted by the wide angle lens. I think if you either corrected that in Photoshop or took the photo a bit further back and zoomed in to get the same framing, it would eliminate that issue.

Jim and Clyde,

I do get what you're saying. Unfortunately given the 'harsh' surrounding area, this was going to be the best way to capture this door. A little further to the left would've been garbage and a homeless mas and further to the right would've been a few broken windows. Since the area didn't have much depth, I couldn't give it such.

The barrel distortion on the 18-55mm lens drives me crazy, to be honest I've never tried to fix it because I don't know how (whoops). Since this is more of a hobby and not a profession, I have never really looked into it a lot.

Thank you for the criticism :)

I really like the light. If it was cropped out, the image would have less impact, imho.

When I posted this on my photoblog, I also got a comment about the flares of light at the top... and I think the best advice--which I handily forgot to heed before posting this here--was to crop out the two smaller blobs of light at the very top, but leave the larger one. I think it needs the light, but I think the answer is between leaving it as is and cropping it out entirely.

Leave it alone, it's very nice the way it is!! My only comment is that it's a little soft overall.

That was my thought when I first saw it - crop out the top light and leave the rounder one and then I would maybe crop out the very bottom fish too. Nice!

well, if i were to crop something, i would crop the bottom fish... I love the light where it is :)

I had the exact same thought as Tamara as soon as I looked at the picture: it does feel crowded. All the elements (the door, the windows) are too close to the edge and there is no breathing room in the photo. There are definitely some interesting textures and things in the photo. Maybe a detail would be the way to go. Or just pull back further, if the scene lends itself to it.

Thank you both for the detailed feedback very helpful and and will try a re-crop!

l'idée est bonne et le sujet aussi. juste je trouve le cadrage trop centré et dommage que la grille sur la droite soit coupée.

I agree. There are great lines, textures and colors here - a different angle and focusing on one aspect of it would be a great way to take advantage of those things.

I find the elements in this shot hugely interesting on their own, particularly the door (great colour and interesting timber surround). If you can, it would be interesting to revisit this site and play with different elements because together it is not as strong as the parts. Oh, the technical aspects of the shot are fine (exposure etc), it looks like a great place to play with different compositions.

superbe cadrage, avec le reflet du laveur de carreau. on dirait qu'il nettoie les nuages

I can't add any other criticism to this photo that hasn't already been added, I really like the colors in the windows, as usual great photo!!!

what a job. nice capture!

I think ksenia had the right suggestion: a square cropping would make the photo stronger, mostly for cutting out the wall on the right side. I think it distracts from the pattern and repetition of the windows and would make the window-washer stand out even more. But otherwise, it's a good photo.

looks like he's cleaning the clouds off the windows to reveal the sky in the reflection... nice!

This is great. Perfect abstract play of light.

Great job.

Excellent photo. I am not sure there would be any way to improve it.

This is a great shot, fresh idea for an every day structure!

superbe composition, le graphisme est magnifique, tu as su bien cadré. j'aime

Excellent shot, nice processing... Congratulations.

It looks good to me. The processing is really nice. And the fact you can see the flies in the picture is actually quite amazing.

Yes, I agree that everything about this image feels "right". I too appreciate the sharpness you have achieved and the great tonal range to successfully pick out the subject. Well done.

this is amazing. i hope you weren't very close to him. :)

Great shot! I would be curious to see the color version...