Please critique these 4 shots (56k Warn)

[Flagpole]

G'day!

I haven't been shooting as much as I hoped I would be in New Year so I decided to go shooting today. I was hoping for nice coloured sunset to practice but it was overcast which wasn't too bad as at least I got some nice sky photos for my sky library. I took about 65 shots and some of them I like. That will keep me going for a few weeks experimenting with various post-processing and retouching techniques. What do you guys think about these four?

http://members.oztralia.com/~bfeldman/Kirribilli/candid_std.jpg
A candid of a couple getting their wedding shots done. The groom is out of the shot

http://members.oztralia.com/~bfeldman/Kirribilli/shb_std.jpg
Sydney Harbour Bridge. I was trying to get a nice siluette against the cloudy sky

http://members.oztralia.com/~bfeldman/Kirribilli/operahouse_std.jpg
Sydney Opera House from Milson's Point

http://members.oztralia.com/~bfeldman/Kirribilli/lunapark_std.jpg
Sydney Luna Park. I took a lot of shots of the Luna Park Face but for the most of the time there was a car parked right outside of it :(

Thank you for any comments. I would dearly love feedback on composition, exposure and post processing.

Regards,
Flagpole
Sydney, Australia

[ayotnoms]

thumbs up on image #3 and #4. Did you try #4 as a B&W?
I like the framing on #3.
#1 lacks a certain snap and #2 lacks the shadow detail to give the bridge some depth although it might the way my monitor shows the picture or the way the web changes the image...or both :-\

Nice effort

[Flagpole]

G'day Ayotnoms!

Thanks for the critique. I appreciate you taking time to post your opinion. I will look into B&W for #4 again. I tried to see what it may look like in b&w really quickly but found that I ended up with very flat image using Greyscale as a quick preview. I may try another conversion using a Channel Mixer to see if I can get the contrast and tone I like.
#1 strangely enough has more pop in colour than b&w. :eek: I may post color version when I get home from work to see if its better. With #2 I can try to open the shadow details. They are all there since I shot these in RAW and playing with some exposure or Shadow&Highlight should reveal most of the shadow area.

Regards,
Flagpole

[ayotnoms]

I should have kept my yap shut. Now that I'm on a my Powerbook, all these photos look 100% better than they did on my crappy work monitor; more detail, crisper resolution, appealing tonal range.

#1 still doesn't put lead in my pencil, if you'll pardon the expression. Perhaps the color version would indeed provide that elusive "pop".

Either way, the images are much better than my initial comments may have conveyed.

Cheers

[René Damkot]

#1 looks like it's taken on a overcast day: Lacks a bit of 'punch'
#2: Great!!
#3: Don't like the way the fence interferes with the opera house and the rest of the background.
This way it isn't clear what you intended as subject: Fence or building?
#4: Just not interesting to me.
So I go for #2...

[Flagpole]

G'day again!

Well here is #1 in color:

http://members.oztralia.com/~bfeldman/Kirribilli/candid2.jpg

Not sure about the POP :)

Rene, agreed on the fence. I would have loved the fence to sit lower or not be there at all :) I suppose I can clone it out but it may be more hassle than its worth. I did take another shot closer forward with fence out of the way but most of the archway was also out of the shot. May have to try this one again one day :)

Just a quick question is noise in #2 too much? I added 10% noise then faded it 40% and set the mode to Pin Light I think. But not sure if it looks too grainy? :D

Flagpole