The way the light was diffused through this umbrella brought me in from 100 yards away. I know it is not much but I feel in this I am finally seeing light rather than the thing.
Hi Robert,
You've mentioned in the Photo details that you are finally seeing the light rather than the thing. I was advised one time time to keep looking at the subject and use the light as a tool to express my interpretation of that subject. In Black and White, you really only have two things to work with -- the subject and the light.
I like this photo -- the upper left corner draws your attention to the decoration detail. Keeping the lower right dark helps support the attention draw.
I think you have a second photo here too -- try cropping the right and lower part of the photo out putting the circle in the lower right corner of the image.
Good stuff!
Bill