Stills

Rex,that's a little hard to figure out. I hadn't noticed it before, but it's in the original scan. This frame would have been at the end of 6 frame strip, and it's possible that the negative carrier wasn't latched tightly, causing a bit of a light leak. It's the only thing I can come up with.
 

Notwithstanding the technicalities of the border adrift at the top, I think that the dark would be more effective if not bordered by white, which detracts from the white at the centre of the picture.

What is interesting is how dark the black surround is: if this were a town in the UK there would be a lot of light pollution from street lamps and other housing (although this could be in the country but unlikely). The dark has been used well to make the building a bit of a mystery. There is a door but no windows. The car indicates that someone is there but it could be a light industrial site rather than a home. Forgive the cliché, but this does have a bit of film noir about it and is attractive as a consequence.
 

My first reaction on openning this was wow. I'll stick with that!

I know that is not a useful comment but this has pattern, line and contrast that appeal to me.
 

John, for web presentation at least, I find borders of some sort pretty much essential. Without them, I think there's too much potential for the image to just bleed away into the background. Of course some images are more or less susceptible to this.

In this case, I can see where this image would work without a border on stills, but on my own site, with it's black background, sans border the image wouldn't stand out from the background.

The original scene wasn't quite so dark as this, but I pegged the exposure to the lights hoping that the majority of the image would just fade into darkness. This building is in part of town that could only be described as a student ghetto. It's dark, dirty, and dense with uninspired architecture.

Rex, sometimes it does help just to know that others like what you are doing. I'm conflicted about images like this. They express a deep ambivalence about where I live right now, and I'm not entirely sure how others see them.
 

I don't think that I sense ambivalence, but I do sense detachment (not just from this one image, but looking at your recent postings here and on your blog). A sort of formal recording.

As to this image, as Rex says it has pattern, line and contrast, so I see why your camera swung that way (and the excellent job you made of it). But is there any feeling?

John's comment about the film noir look rings true. It looks professional.
 

I like this one matt~. As for "potential for the image to just bleed away into the background" if this were my image I would intentionally seek to do that. Presentation on a completely black background and burning away of the left hand lighter elements to blend in with the dark surround. That, I think, would enhance what for me this image is about. An isolated place, lit up in contrast to the darkness around it. A place to be in a less welcoming environment.
 

Colin, perhaps instead of saying that they express a deep ambivalence, I should have said that they are the result of a deep ambivalence, which might explain some of the detachment that you sense.

As to the question of "is there any feeling," I'm not sure how to answer that, but it's worth some thought.
 

A framed picture makes the packagae whole and for me I'd stick to white as matt board. That would then keep the frames within frames imagery alive. As for feelings - cold and desolute - and for me these are quite strong. However, there are definite warm spots beneath the lamps. Top notch lighting and use of shadow to create tension. You half expect someone to come bursting through the door and hop in to the getaway car.