Fire Escape

[Lorey]

This is a crop from a slightly larger photo. I'm not sure if it is the best. I can add more to the top or bottom. I've tried it both ways but seem to like it like it is. I didn't want to post both versions at fist. I would like critiques on it the way it is and any would think adding to it would help I'll post the second version. Thank you very much for looking and time to critique.

http://www.lmbphotos.com/web_postings/fire_escape_shadow.jpg

[Bambi]

I like this. I like the textures and the shadows. In terms of crop I would try cropping out the bottom wall and maybe including the top windows. Right now they look cut off but I also could be wrong, including them might now work. I might also take a bit off of the right side to make it more vertical.

[Matt K.]

I agree with Bambi. Show the top windows and get rid of the wall on the bottom. Add a bit more contrast, maybe to make the shadows pop some more ...

[Lorey]

Thanks Bambi and Matt. I cut the windows because as you see they are not the same shape of the lower one. The extra tall windows seemed to look awkward to me. I've posted the crop per the requests and also the near full version of the shot. I kind of like that one too. Does anyone else find the full version appealing? Thank you for viewing and input.

http://www.lmbphotos.com/web_postings/fireescape_crop1.jpg

full version
http://www.lmbphotos.com/web_postings/fireescape_crop2.jpg

[Bambi]

for me the cropped version works the best. everything indicates the tall lines and cool architecture. I love the upper windows.

[mellowinman]

I like the asymmetrical quality of the full shot.

[Iguanasan]

Either of the second two are great. I like the results of the crop. I'm not 100% sure though if you needed to get rid of the bottom part of the wall, the "problem", if there was one, for me was that it was crooked. I liked the way the shadow extended the fire escape to the ground.

[Mad Aussie]

I've come in a bit late but my two cents on the crop is definitely include those long windows ... what WERE you thinking! ;)
But I would crop much tighter under those bottom windows ... within a few bricks of them in fact.

I'd have converted this to B&W for sure also.

[Lorey]

Thanks everyone for viewing and input. It was helpful. You're right MA. Guess I WASN'T thinking. After I included the long windows I really liked it better. B&W probably would work here also but I think the image is strong enough to support color and I liked the colors in this. I also think I liked the shadow extending to the sidewalk. Since I like them both I'll probably do a re-crop and then get prints of them both. I'll have one to hang at home and one for the office at work. Thanks again for your helpful comments.

[okmqaz42]

My one and a half cents worth! The full version(number 3) is spot on, very interesting photo. I love the shadow details and the texture. The two vertical lines in the brick work add a nice subtle detail. Perfect!