Hi Bob, Hope November brings you better days. I think that some cropping could make this image more interesting. It is an unusual viewpoint, and the gull and the flag give it an interesting touch. The cars on the right bottom distracted me. I tried to attach and attempted cropping hope it comes through.

  Posted: 11/13/2023 15:20:11

Hi Bob,
Thank you for sharing.
I like your attempt here. The bridge is well described in the composition. Also the color balance is excellent, warm color vs cool colors. It is nice. The color of the clouds gives a hint of the time taken as well. It is well done.
If the US flag is flying in the wind, it would add another story in the image I guess.
Let me throw a curve ball. This would deliver a entirely differnt story though.   Posted: 11/13/2023 23:20:30

Thank you, Haru. I would call your curve ball a strike! Outside corner.   Posted: 11/14/2023 08:57:40

Hi Bob. I like the angle from which you have taken the image. It is different. There is a good interplay between cool and warm colors as mentioned by Haru. But I am trying to understand what is it that you are trying to project through this image? An image of a bridge, in my opinion, would be great if it shows a greater part of the bridge or it shows some design element.   Posted: 11/14/2023 10:51:55

Hi Bob. I like the crops that Gloria and Haru have done which simplify the image and get us down to a few things to consider. I think I would pick Haru's and bring the bottom edge up just a little to eliminate the sky peaking out under the bridge.

With that simpler image, I think Viren's question is very interesting - what are you trying to project? I think the simplicity but yet juxtaposition of two very different elements makes the viewer think. I can imagine staring at this for quite awhile wondering what is Bob saying? How does the bird relate to the bridge? Is it about the natural world colliding with man? Is it about man going to great feats of engineering trying to soar to great heights as the bird can much more simply do? Some would say that a great photograph makes the viewer uncomfortable by creating such questions without an obvious answer. I am not sure whether I agree or disagree - I am still trying to figure out such things. But I do agree that such an image holds the viewers attention. Which is in contrast to a beautiful image where the viewer says "Wow" and then moves on quickly.

Of course in this case, the fact that we have seen the un-cropped original might suggest that "what you are trying to say" is less than clear even to you (and I'm in that boat with my images most of the time). But that doesn't mean that you can't decide for yourself after the fact - after all something attracted you to the image in the first place.

Hope November is a better month. Cheers.

  Posted: 11/15/2023 10:34:20