Stills

I think that you have two pictures here. The bikes, the statue and the setting is the first. The second, with a much less wide lens, is the sign with the walkers.

As it is, I find everything too confused. The headless rider is a real pity.
 

Headless rider aside for a moment, this shot feels very constructed, almost staged, but I'm not sure what value judgment that implies.
 

Yes, constructed. It reminded me of the pink and blue seafront shot from a while back. There is a little Jeff Wall direction going on here...
 

Colin - I said to myself that the two-story element would be discussed here! Of course, the wide lens lets you get close to the sign although, as it happens, it was sheer coincidence that this lot happened in this place. The headless rider almost certainly happened because I was still getting used to Live View (probably without my glasses on); but then I am not so sure that the headless rider is that important - just consider him disappearing out of frame and no more than a bit player (that's one interpretation!). In fact, I think that it all links: think of a Gormley statue and then contrast it with a man on crutches. The bikers are a variation on the theme and the sign just that, a sign!

Matt - definitely not a Jeff Wall moment; I think one has to accept that life happens (Rumsfeld-style - stuff happens). I happen to quite admire Wall's work but have never ever considered that sort of work.

Rex - no rush over the E-3 is there? Just wait until it is cheaper: you've waited long enough already!
 

I also struggle to find out what it is about. Could it be a tension between struggling with canes and the young guys cycling? Then are the other elements an accident?
 

Whether it is about anything is up to the viewer. The statue on the roof (by Gormley - google my title and gormley) is one of around 30 in the vicinity. Below is one quote from someone writing about the exhibition:

"It is also surprising how the eye can pick out these silhouetted figures from such a long way off, among the rooftop clutter of chimneys, pipework, masts and antennae. The eye is a sniper, homing in unerringly. And as we do so, we might for a moment forget our groundedness, joining the figures above us."

I quite like photos having different things happening in them, but that's my taste. Accident? Photos are much more fun if they are accidents!
 

Coming in a little later and reading the dialog, first, I did not notice the statue, but did notice immediately the play on words in the sign. If I crop the sign out, it makes a big difference on how I react to this image. You have the sign and recommendation to 'walk this way', with the guy whose is walking in a way we hope we don't, but then the one kid in the foreground who seems to be taking this in. BTW, the sky is wonderful, but a tad blown out just above the walking couple.
 

There are some little nits in this which others have mentioned. In a cruel way I enjoy the sign's playing with the be-crutched gentleman and then the further with the cyclists. The guy riding the bicycle does not work as the others are adhering to the sign. There are some wonderful tones and light at work and that statue observing from up high is a good touch.
 

My first reaction was to the "walk this way" sign next to the man on crutches, and from there I went to the bicycle kids -- the one in the foreground would make a nice photo all on his own. I did not immediately notice the statue either, but like having interesting small things like that to "discover".

I wish the man on crutches had some part of his head/face in the light, but overall I like the dynamics of the whole scene. (agree that the missing head is a bit of a problem).