Another outstanding composition of this really cool bridge! There is something really special about the creamy texture or glow of the highlights in the foot and side plate. I have long sought to understand this attribute in photos, and to be able to produce in my work (i have not successfully printed anything yet, so maybe i have a suitable negative already). Some of Paul Strand's images from New Mexico and NYC have this, and his Gaspe Bay Quebec work is luscious; and Brett Weston's White Sands NM portfolio has fine examples. I think Brett was a master at printing for effect. Your Morning After image is terrific and captures a softening mood in cold hard massive steel. Can you imagine the mold and the pouring of those thick foot plates at the foundry? This image is definitely suitable for framing just as the evening glow of Rivertown.
Our minds travel in similar currents. I see the footplate & think - my goodness, the mold, the side of the bucket to pour, how could they transport something that big, was it cast on site... Anytime an image evokes that elevated pace of wonder, I love it. Weston prints (Dad & son) make me nuts. Those two could wring more sensuality out of a print than any that come to mind. Trying to show the diff to digital to a friend, I made two images of the same stairwell. One w/ 24mp nikon, one w/ the blad. To the first glance, the Nikon looked sharper. When you crop, you see its all line edge sharpness & contrast. It was a brick stairwell. The nikon showed the outline of the brick well, but not much texture or tone inside the outline of the brick. The blad seemed to show less acutance, but WAY more detail inside each brick. Before this latest dive (3rd) into shooting, I didn't know there was more than one attribute to sharpness. I'm learning. Jim Galli's shot of the V8 stick shift is a fabulous example. http://www.apug.org/gallery1/showimage.php?i=82916&c=2 DOF is not wall to wall. What's in focus is fully sharp, but acutance is not harsh. But the depth of info for lack of a better description is amazing. The dashboard is out of focus, but even there, the fullness and tone of the detail seem better than most images in hard focus.
I prefer this to the Troll's View, though seeing the prints in person might sway me the other way. This shot seems to convey the massiveness better, to my eye. The thumbnail immediately caught my attention, and I was astounded when clicking on it. Agree with your comment on Jim Galli's shot.
Keith, this one's more legible from a thumb - for sure. I have a weakness for Brassai's night time cityscapes, so I'll be drawn to the night shot. Another had a ship passing by, leaving a light trail in addition to wake. 'Sort of interesting, but nothing that grabbed me that hard. I hope I can work some more night shooting in. I shiver & shake, but on the pod, the camera won't know. Thank You for taking a look & especially for taking the time to let me hear your thoughts on it. I appreciate it more than I can say.