Man on a Cell Phone

[Doc88]

MY IMAGE(S):
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/upload_spool/05-02-2002/8621_Man_on_Cell_Phone_Near_Train_Overpass.jpg


GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: Man on a Cell Phone
Year Created: 2001
Medium: Photograph
Surface: Photo paper
Dimension: 20x30
Allow digital alterations?: No, please :)

MY COMMENTS:
This is a digital photograph that was altered to mimic a charcoal drawing.

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
I am looking for feedback on the overall composition.

[champagneharley]

Although I like the image, and the setting. The composition, is just ever so slightly, off.
It seems too chopped for me.
The biggest thing is showing so much of the man, but not his feet, if you have that part of the image I would definitely include them. Too bad he wasn't forward just one more metre (yard) it would have been perfect positioning, I would have then, cut out any suggestion of a second arch.
As it is, I would like to see at least a little more of the top of the arch, not too much, but enough for it not to feel like it was cut off accidently.
If the man was forward a metre, and the second arch gone, and the man's feet there, then the perfect thing to do would be to chop the top down by almost 1/3 - still leaving plenty of dark above the opening at the other end.
Possibly cropping the rounded 'bump' at the base on the left would be the correct thing to do, as it does nothing for the composition.
If that location is close by, I would return, and try other shots.
Regards,
Jillian
http://www.JillianCrider.com

[bruin70]

that the top. bottom, and left side almost gets lost makes the composition rather incidental(not well planned).....{M}

[henrik]

since you don't allow digital alternation I can't show you what I mean --- but I think a crop where you keep bottom 1/2 or so and about 1/3 from the right would be a better composition.

The big black opening has too much weight, and the incidental (as milt put it) cropping of top, left and bottom also attracts the eye as if the crop was made on purpose.