christopher_martindale

Banned In Woodburn: This is a bad photo posted for a reason. I was doing some street photography in Woodburn Oregon this evening. The store owner comes out and kicks me off telling me that "I could not photograph PRIVATE property". I left before he called the cops. Considering all the crud that is happening here (Drugs, gangs, domestic violence, the cartels) this is a dangerous place after dark. I am posting this because I have a right to under UNITED STATES law.

I like the way the line of the road leads the viewer into the scene. Getting away from the "Standard" aspect ratio is a good thing. Good exposure, lots of drama in the clouds but dark areas still show detail. Makes me want to visit this place just to see what's in that next valley... Question: Did you use HDR to get the exposure range here? If so it is very subtle; a good use of a HDR program.

I like seeing the sunset through the silhouette of the towers. This is one of those rare times that two objects centered in the view become interesting. I think that this is because the eye-mind is held by the similarity and differences between the two towers. Engage the viewer and they will remain with the image longer. The one thing I would have done is remove the sun (?) reflection from the lower right corner. It takes the eye from the center of interest.

The shapes work well together because of the fog. On a clear day the details in the back ground would have competed with the shape of the subject.

I understand your decision to include more of the foliage. The composition was enhanced by the inclusion of the tree limbs, they draw the viewer's eye across the photo. The bird's color contrasted nicely with the colors of the leaves. This strengthened the composition.

This looks a lot like the buildings I saw in Saratov Russia. The photo has a good bit of emotional feel to it (a good thing). Might I offer a suggestion, however? Try cropping out the street light on the left side of the photo and maybe the tree branches to the right... Alternately you could have taking the photo from a view point a bit to the right and included more of the tree making that part of the composition. This is just my style: I might have come back later when there were a few lights on in the building but before it got really dark. That being said the lights might not have fit the emotions you were trying to express.

This was from several years ago just after sunset.