Where am i going wrong?

I entered this shot for a competition (low light), but came no were, can some explain why.

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its really really tiny! try posting a bigger one and then maybe we can comment, what was the title of the competition? if you have photoshop use the save for web function to reduce the file size below 100kb, the image cant exceed 800 pixels on its longest edge.

It's difficult to say (especially as it's so small) but maybe cropping it slightly, removing the "space" on the right, and a tad of the foreground. Other than that it looks a beautiful shot to me.

I assume the competition asked for this "type" of photograph!

From what I can tell, it's a lovely shot. A good night photo with good exposure. If there is a flaw, maybe it is the absence of a clear subject. The river lead the eye nicely to the towers in the background, but the side buildings are a little distracting. Tough to say unless we know the nature of the competition. There are a lot of night photog "experts" here who will hopefully give you some advice.

Thanks for your advice. The Title of the competition was low light.

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It's nothing spectacular. The right side of the image is rather dark and uninteresting.

good colors and exposure but nothing is overwhelmingly powerful in this composition. I do find the right side of the photograph fairly empty and without interest. maybe a crop up from the lower right ending near the clock tower would eliminate that and bring the viewer closer to the interesting parts of your image. i do like it but i am not sure if it is contest winning

I like it - who cares what the competition thinks?
I think it could be toned down just a bit, but it has good composition, good interest and no obvious flaws. The color balance is good, although what do you judge by on night shots? Night shots generally include every kind of illumination known to man, and every dog must have his day (or night)

Its a good shot and has good colour. The only comment I can make is maybe the dark areas are a bit excessive. It a shame the water was disturbed by the wind or you may have seen some clearer reflections.

Knowing bugger all on the technique side of things, I like the composition. I like the contrast from one side of the river to the other. Ie both of the buildings are similar in structure and it almost looks like te good part of town vs the bad part of town seperated by the train tracks type deal.

Thats my 2 cents anyway

I enter competitions with an open mind, if i don't win...i don't win! I don't second guess my photo or what is "Wrong" with it, it's obviously just not what the competition board wants - OR something better came along?

The more comp you ente,r the better you will feel because one day you will get your big beak, i did only a few months back, then again a few weeks later, it's just practice and the more comps you enter the better you get at it.

So don't put yourself down, there is no real REASON as to why you didn't win, it's just a matter of trying harder next time

Del

PS: The shot is good, but doesn't really POP out to me?

LOL OK i meant big BREAK not big BEAK haha hthat woul dbe funny....ahhh silly me lol

Thats an excellent shot, Maybe it wasn't the best but hey do you like it? Because thats what counts. It would be nice to see what won the comp (link?)
I think its a "hanger" and would be over the moon 2 capture similar
Do you know what the buildings are ie what business they are?

While I personally like the shot, as others have said the right side seems a bit challenged. Also, as I look at it the horizon is not straight...seems tilted to the right. Who knows, that might have been it. Thank you for sharing.

Great shot.

Now, why didn't you win the competition? Well, it's not very 'clever', and by that I mean it is quite literal. They usually like a twist, that is out of the ordinary. Much like those rhymes you have to finish - such and such is better because...
Just saying it works is not going to win.

You would have to see the winning shot to know what they had in their minds eye when they chose the winner.

Graham