Warwick Ford

A really strong tension in the skews on the horizontal, the 'information' on the right electrifying the right edge, heavyweight black rectangle midleft center (try knocking bits out .. the picture collapses). That, and the light, yield an intense sense of place. For all its compositional strength, the picture does not feel contrived in any way.

Thanks Robin, I did try cropping this photo and each attempt left me feeling the image was incomplete. The image here is as it was shot. I feel comfortable looking at this picture and I think it is the balance of elements you have pointed out. I also get a sense of "honesty" - something like a "home town" feel but I can't put my finger on why that is.

There's no framing like full-framing! Back in my motorcycle days, guys would have these huge parties and set up oval race courses using two cones 30-50+ yards apart. The motto was 'Run what you brung!' Meaning, it don't matter what you rode to the party...race with it now! For some reason, I always associate that slogan with using the entire frame that you have in any given format. Kinda like, well, this is the camera you took out today, use it! to it's fullest! Full frame baby. As far as this shot goes, I think it's the high key effect that makes it successful. The garage door on the left with it's lower key shadow takes away from the effectiveness. I don't find this one as strong as your other shots for some reason. I look at this shot and wish you had moved in a little closer I guess. Maybe closer enough to lose that garage door on the left and the 'Paul Bailey' sign on the right. I like the austere, white heat, everything blown out day quality about the location. Just think it could have been stronger. However, I obviously like it well enough to go on and on here about it. So, nice shot, got another version?

Just playing...certainly loses all the dynamic you have in your original, I think you probably get the idea though.

Tried eliminating the "Paul Bailey" but the Warwick Ford got to squeezed against the edge of the frame. The doors and windows somehow don't quite fit the character of the sign and the sky - 50's vs. 90's - but it is what it is. I love the texture of the corrogated steel with its shadow and the sign and sky. The rest? It's just there.

yep, roger that.