Getting frustrated

[MattSG]

my photos are getting crappy again :( I seem to go through ebbs and flows where I either like what I'm doing or I don't...right now I don't.

These were the best of the ones I took tonight, and I'm really not happy with them. How could I make them better?
http://www.mgassner.com/photos/glow.jpg

http://www.mgassner.com/photos/lights.jpg
...I really do want criticism on these...I need to get better.

[Mike Panic]

first one is just a tad too center heavy

the 2nd one i like, but it seems like you either jacked the contrast in ps or you over exposed and lost some details while shooting. the object to the right of the frame is also kinda distracting and doesnt let the eye follow down the road smoothly

[Meerkat17]

The first image is a very good candid shot but you have lost it (IMO) through not getting close enough to your subject. The thing of interest is the guy and the shop window the fire hydrant and lamppost just get in the way - you could try cropping the image to make more of the subject matter.

The second I don't care for as I find the right side of the image totally distracting and feel the the overall image is too dark.

Regards
David

[Steven M. Anthony]

You might want to consider what you are trying to get across with these images so we can give you comments that help you communicate that thought/feeling/idea/statement better.

That said, the message of the first seems rather obvious. FOr me, the irony of a homeless person sleeping in an art gallery window--and being made into a work of art himself--is strong enough to withstand the compositional and technical weaknesses. And I'm not sure a closer shot would do the trick here as to get both the lamp post and the hydrant out of frame, you'd end up losing a lot of context (the doorway, in particular) which I think is important for the shot.

Anyway, just my opinion.