Nara Gas Station

Although I know you've read and heard this before, Jack, I recognized this photograph as yours as soon as I looked at the critique page. The sign which contains the gasoline prices is interestingly hidden behind the bold one in front for it. Without the title, I never would have thought this scene was at a gas station. That's what led to my observation about the hidden sign. In general, I find the colors in this image more vivid than usual; perhaps this plus the title was your way of making a statement about the ridiculously high price of gasoline (not just in Japan) and lobbying for transportation modes that don't use fossil fuels. I'll simply interpret the image as portraying parallel universe devoid of people.

Typical Jack. Would like to see the prices...

Without the bottom quarter or so, this would be much more abstract, a collage of shapes and primary colors. But the bottom of the photo brings us back to the reality of concrete, sewers, tires, asphalt. I like that division between the vivid, dynamic shapes, and the gray dullness of the paved urban environment.

Master of composition. :) Fantastic colours of a gray story.