Looks like you had very nice colors that evening. I have to side with those that the bottom 2/3 dosn't really make the shot sing. The top 1/3 is an awesome sillouette with wonderful warmth and symetry. Crop it just below where the light begins again, and you would see an awesome pano. If I had the oppertunity to revisit, maybe think of a longer lens with a tripod and take a pano (few shots stiched together) with just that part...or maybe find a foreground that provides a little stronger interest and direction leading the viewers eye up to the amazing colors.

The B&W give more evenness to the entire picture...but then the focus goes away from what drew you to the scene....the color....as the symetry of the sillouette is secondary...and the B&W make that the primary interest...but I think the actually beauty of the warmth your top 1/3 shows was the origonal thing that caught your eye....and sticking with that ...and its color would be my suggestion.

Nice shot none the less!!!...and look forward to more.

Hope my suggestions arent too rough....im pretty tough on my own stuff too....lol.

Roman - thanks. Great feedback, all. Brutally honest opinions is exactly what I am looking for.

I will crop the lower third of the photo and resubmit when I have a spare moment.

Hey Misha,

Thanks for having the courage to submit your work. I think that as long as we are all able to frame things positively, that this can be a tremendous growth experience for everyone.

BTW, if I have not thanked you again for having for contributing the front page, let me do so now. It really is quite good.

-JM

James,
Thanks a lot for your note. Like you said, my piece on the front page is very emotional and does not aim to please every person who reads it. My main goal is to "show" what I see through my eyes using the text first and foremost, plus to compliment it with photo images. If you read it without images and it does not do anything for you, I may have failed in my efforts. Some may agree or disagree with my view of the world or my opinions expressed in that essay, and this is exactly what I am hoping for. Constructive criticism is what makes us (or at least some of us who are willing to listen to anything other than positive) better.

Regards,
Misha