This is where I grew up...

I was showing my son (then almost 6) around the railroad tracks behind

my grandparents' farm. I'd spent many hours playing along those

tracks and under the bridges, but this was his first visit. What do

you think about the square crop? The original has lots more sky above

and a wee bit more gravel below. Any other suggestions?

I love the emotion of the photo - and it's not your traditional "sitting on the tracks" posed shot. I would have liked the camera a little higher, the track is a bit harsh in the lower right corner, but I do think the square crop is better than vertical, I think if you can make it work horizontal that would be even better!

I love the square crop. It fits the mood and composition. Beautiful photo.

Misty, thanks for your suggestion. I see what you mean about the harsh track. If I were using an SLR, I probably would have used a larger aperture to blur the foreground. I suppose I could simulate the effect by applying a little Gaussian blur along the bottom. I took this by standing my little, boxy P&S camera on its end on the rail, setting the timer, and then walking away with my son. As for the horizontal crop, I don't think the bushes to either side would add anything but real estate to the scene.

I respectfully disagree with both of you about the track. It adds meaning, like the arrow of time. It forms a perfect triangle, and the relationship of father and son is timebound. They are walking into the future that is unknowable. The only thing we know is that their relationship, like time itself, will keep changing as if in accordance with a law of nature represented by the triangle of the tracks, which points inexorably to the vanishing point on the horizon, the future, and the journey that father and son have embarked upon together. The composition balances perfectly upon the point of that triangle. Great shot.

This is a cool shot....Dad showing his son the old stomping grounds back home....the perspective is interesting and I like the B&W tones and textures. I'm not sure why, but kids seem to love railroad tracks. I've got a few shots in my portfolio of my kids at the tracks back in my hometown. Nice effort.

This shot was submitted to the 2009 Nebraska State Fair photography competition, where it received honorable mention in the "Posed Portraits (black & white)" class.