These are both ones I took as a part of my B&W film photography class down at Union Station. They were both scanned from prints, so I apologize for the one being a little bit crooked. They are both from the same negative just the print exposure in the darkroom just a tad bit longer in the top one. Do you notice any difference and if so, which is your preference?

And of course, any other comments and critiques are welcome.

http://gallery.photographyreview.com/data/photography//500/medium/Unionstation1.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com/data/photography//500/medium/Unionstation2.jpg

I prefer the resulting appearance of the contrast in the second image to the first.

The center railing needs to meet the windows at the top of the Grand Staircase differently to enhance the symmetry of the photo. If not that it might be shot so that the angles of the rails and steps open to one another more obliquely as opposed to right angles.

A framing/cropping choice for a 'final' image might include having the center railing terminate in the center of the blown out middle window and have as much reflective symmetry of the windows and lights at the top at the edges as possible with the slight difference that exist in the middle rails and the edge. There are some great photos at the Chicago Historical society of this are of the station that even center the two rails in the photos with the middle window behind them.

Best wishes and will look forward to more!

Couldn't tell you why but I like the first one better.

Greg, these are not bad at all. I prefer the tone and sligthtly less exposure time of the first. The highlights are not blown out like the second and the contrast a bit heavier.
I agree with drg about the symetry aspect of the framing here. It looks off balanced and unsettling. I think it would have to be a completly different shot altogether to make that change.
Thanks for showing and looking forward to more.

I wonder how this would look in sepia tone. giving the grass rails

I perfer the blown out windows of the second image as a more "artistic" look. Alas, artistic is in the eye of the beholder so you are going to have to choose for yourself.

BTW Straighten those images!