thanks, and attempt at explanation...
gahspidy, i'll try to capture this on another evening from a higher view, as you suggested. you're right, it might give the whole shot a bit more context. i'll also try a bit more exposure too to bring out the material colors more, per LLMc's suggestion. i'll see what happens! thanks for the comments.
my mood when i took this photo was to show the decay. i love living in boston and the city has so many beautiful people, buildings, parks, etc. but what i always seem to be most fascinated with is the decay, the dirt and grime, and the trash that is in juxtaposition. the charles river basin (the location of this photo) is generally a beautiful place and is lined by a park that includes famous landmarks such as the hatch-shell (summer concert area), some great bridges, historic boat houses, etc. the remains on this dock have always seemed in stark contrast to that beauty, imo. if you extend this "mood" to how i see the city in general, then maybe this sheds light onto why some of my photos look the way they do...