This one is not speaking clearly to me

[Loupey]

This one has elements I like and dislike. Would love to get your take on it.

[Ultra Magnus]

I don't normally do many critiques, mostly because I don't think I'm that good at them, but I'm going to give this one a whirl...

First, I dig the block wall diagonally leading up to the windmill, the sky and the framing. What I don't dig is that object in the foreground under the windmill, and under it to the left. Also, is that a parking lot on the other side of the block wall? To me on my screen, it's a bit dark, at least in the mid-tones, and soft (probably due to resizing).

I think you did a pretty good job, maybe with careful cloning and adjusting it could be really good.

[swmdrayfan]

That'd be a good one to go back and get again on a sunnier day. I agree about the foreground object (an empty box?).
John

[jellybean]

I like it, even with the object in the foreground!

The only thing I'd change is, I'd move a little so that the parking lot isn't in the back...or perhaps blur that a little to take it out of the shot. (cropping may help too)

[SmartWombat]

Auto levels and auto colours in PS didn't make much improvement - better light might give it more impact, it's just dull because it was a dull day. But not stormy enough to have real character in the light or the sky.

The windmill is subtly off the 1/3 point.
I felt the right hand focal point of the image was between the sails, left of the cap.
Where I expected it ot be omn the cap of the windmill.
That may be giving you a slight feeling of wrongness. but it's not a bad thing

The seat in the foreground is distracting/ I think it could be a good thing if it was on tlhe opposite side of the image, not competing with the windmill on the same side.

The chimneys on the building at the base of the mill are an easy distraction to cloe out, and I don't feel guilty about that - after all if a painter was going to paint this, would he leave them in?

[jar_e]

I agree with Paul...it looks like it just was a dull day. There are a few things that make this picture a tad busy IMO (like the parking lot, the bench, etc.) so as much as I love the windmill, my eye still does wander looking at the other objects. Of course, it's hard to move buildings, but there's a few buildings I'd get rid of, and probably first, the one right to the left of it with the smokestacks (?). That really interfere's with the shot IMO.

It's a tough shot, but I think you did pretty good given everything,

Jared

[Loupey]

Thanks, everyone! That's what I was looking for - great comments from another point of view!

I would love to go back and shoot this again. Since this was originally shot on film, it is a great example of how instant feedback of digital could have made a tremendous difference here.

I think I tried too hard here to get the "shot". Driving by, I first noticed the windmill. Getting closer, I saw the bench, Getting closer, I saw how the wall adds a nice perspective. Getting even closer, I saw the river (not parking lot) at low tide. I even saw the boat (not smokestacks) just behind the windmill.

I got carried away at trying to put too much in this shot instead of concentrating on the important elements. If I could do it over, I think I'd stick to the bench (in a different placement), wall, and windmill only.

Paul, I couldn't get much improvement either with PS. But then again, my skill with PS isn't very good.

Bmadau, I appreciate your input. I hope you will continue to comment in the future. I'm guilty of not commenting enough on images that I don't normally see or take. But I'm working on that and trying to give my impression on them - I imagine that the poster is looking for that anyway.

Again, thanks everyone. I'll post more that are "borderline" in hopes that it helps others watching as well as me.