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I am assuming that the focal length is a bit longer than 50. Nice tones and sufficient contrast. - David Lyga

This was a 50mm, actually.

...I think....

At least, from what I recall....

I've intentionally stuck with 50mm in 35mm format for the past couple of years as I learn composition, but I might have quickly borrowed my daughter's zoom lens (which she's carrying in the photo I posted the other day)

Well if you want to talk about composition imho this photo doesn't have any. It's a nice "I was there" photo although it seems the focus was missed on the Welcome sign and nailed on the building's side. Maybe with some dodging and burning you could bring out what you feel are the primary points of interest and lead us to them. Right now to me at least it's just to busy with no real area that my eye is drawn to. All the out of focus crates in the foreground are distracting.

Maybe you could explain to me how you felt it was composed and we could have a discussion around that.

I realize this photo is not in the Critique gallery so I really shouldn't be saying anything so I apologize if I have offended you.

If you want help with any images or comments the Critique gallery is the best place to put them.

@Eric Rose I’m glad you noticed the sloppiness.. it was intentional in this case. ...except what looks like defocus but I think is actually a highlight “glow” from chromatic aberration. There’s something up with this lens..the rolls that I put through the camera in this timeframe all had a similar effect.

I liked the constancy of the Welcome sign amidst all the chaos. It reminded me of a friend stopping over a couple days prior when I hadn’t “prepped” the house for a visit (I have pre-teen kids — imagine the chaos) so I snapped the picture. My goal was the opposite of the typical tight composition .... sloppy and cluttered. It acts like a whirlwind around the welcome sign, at least when my eye settles on the image.

In another version I crop off the dark area / overhang on the right, leaving the boat along the edge. I found my eye kept wondering what was in the shed so I chopped it off. ...The shed, not my eye. That keeps the eye from drawing away from the mess without tightening up the shot too badly.

With that long-winded diatribe, I’d be happy to hear your thoughts.

Feel free to comment regardless of what gallery I post. I see constructive criticism as a professional courtesy (and not personal). Those categories are artificial anyhow, since you can comment here.

PM me your email address and I have some images to email you. Then we can discuss them. Thx for being open to discussion.

eric