I like the form and B & W gradients. Maybe a tiny skew tweak to pull the upper right corner a tad to the right? Maybe add some dark to the top and bottom to fence the eye a bit?
I see that this is all about light and lines, but....it is not a very interesting or engaging scene. The cement and cinder blocks don't help. Maybe this would work in some place like an old church with wore steps and stained glass, etc.
The "fencing" at the bottom is an interesting nugget, I'll have to put in the bag-o-tricks. I did a "newbie" job of lining this one up in camera (handheld), so my pp skew @ lines is somewhat of a compromise choose your poison (I opted for the glass frame @ straighter) of which/how much did I want to be "off" ... will have to re-shoot with a bit more discipline at square, level & plumb with trusty tripod and different lens (less distortion).
Travis,
The "cramped" is a byproduct of some skew/distortion correction. I figure if I get it right in camera, then I could have saved a bit more possible to the right.
Jim,
+1 @ not an "engaging" subject ... intended @ "studious" exercise instead.
This one is just about tones and textures, light and lines ... transitions and juxtapositions. The concrete is part of what caught my attention in contrast with the steel handrails and the glass windows ... i.e. different materials ... to coincide with the different textures, different tones and different directions of lines.
Excellent choice for BW.
Nice find. Beautiful light.
Processing: Overall I prefer the original's play of light on the stairs.
I think some of the darkening at the base that Karen illustrated works, but I would go with a lighter touch and bottom only with a gradient. Otherwise a bit of bland, empty space.
Scott
In my mind, there's a guy just to the right bent over tying his shoe laces on his wingtips before going up to the bank/office building (but you'd have to know what building it is for that to make much sense).
+1 @ bottom gradient, but Karen's illustration brought the point home really well.
The "find" was as I was coming down the ramp off an empty parking garage and it allowed an angle of view into an area of this garage that is below grade, and usually unseen from the street. Mostly I could only see the light at the bottom of the stairs, until I actually got down there did I see the rest of the interplay.
Some folks get to go exploring through Slot Canyon, Tetons, Badlands, Everglades, and Africa ... I get to explore an underground parking garage. Who knows, maybe the sewer system is next.
