it doesn't rock my boat as presented due the evenness of tone. the composition is pleasing for it's expansive view.
i looked at in photoshop, added a burn layer in softlight mode, then applied liberal burning throughout with a soft 27% black brush to 'place the emphasis on the steps and the path just forward of them'. worked well. best...skip
I think I would have gotten closer to the wooden stairs and used them to lead into the frame and then the two large trees on either side would frame each side.
While I like the concept here, I'm sort of seeing the same things as my predicessors. Additionally, if the stairs are to be the "subject" you might consider moving them a bit off center, i.e. the rule of thirds.
There is an old axiom for new photogs that says something to the effect "compose your shot; then cut the distance to your subject in half; and capture the image." Give it a try, the results are often surprising. Best wishes. -Art
I think the main issue to realize for someone unfamiliar with B/W work is that it's the composition that is the most important thing. Just converting a color image to monochrome doesn't always work. What can be quite appealing in color may be a dissapointment in B/W simply because without the color the composition doesn't stand up.
You have to think a little more with B/W as to how everything works together within the frame of the viewfinder, composition... (taking into account that some viewfinders don't show 100%).
I don't normally like to crop images, but sometimes it's necessary and helpful and you can rescue a less than perfect composition that way.
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