This is such a terrific image I have however provided a mod for your consideration. The BG buildings seems to have a halo like effect which is distracting and hence the mod. I have also gone for a square format as the space on the left, whilst adding context, is perhaps superfluous? (as the context is already provided by the bg to the right of the figure and the flag).
(Oh and this is my 500th mod!)

delightful composition, not so easy to achieve with this sort of social documentary story telling, there are just so many other considerations!

Hi Ade:

The greatest value in this image for me resides in the original crop; the Victorian building, shown centrally, is the dominant subject of the image. The original version gives the context, which seems to be a hodge/podge redevelopment in an old part of the city centre. The wider perspective allows the reading of the image as a political comment, whereas although the crop provides graphic power, it has been diminished as a social and economic record. So, the important decision I feel is to go for the graphic aesthetic or not at the cost of wider readings? Can the image have a similar graphic power and still keep the original crop?

I prefer the square crop, with the light breaking into the image and the rail in the fg

very difficult conditions which to undertake long exposure work and get pristine results. The capture certainly conveys a feeling of the elegance of the situation, with the dramatic backdrop with depth to colours and perspective. I've put up a mod just so I could play with the image and 'see' it better, rather than to offer it up as an alternative rendition. I don't imagine it will stand up to a large print too well... it all would depend upon how sharp the figure on the boat is. I love the combination of stillness and movement... something I try to capture whenever I can... which reminds me of what image I want to post here

thanks

a belated RC! that foreground tuft of grass although it echoes the mountain is in the wrong place compositionally balance wise for me, a step to the left and it would have worked, but they both being central fight each other rather than one acting as a reference to the other

like the strong play of lines and use of the snow trail, the subtle tonal contrasts are a treat, would have been easy to have over processed or wrongly exposed this one

straight verticals are a lucky bonus in street photography! as for a mono interpretation, well you are photographing a colour photograph, and that photograph depends a lot for its own impact on colour, the red is central, you would therefore diminish the impact that you had of the scene... as you stated, a very powerful way of showing photography, in fact for street photography, it probably works best on the street like you have demonstrated.

like the choice of angle which makes the most of the shallow DOF.
I saw an interesting comment on one of Carsten's recent uploads about eyes (one eye was obscured in the image) and how both eyes are therefore required to make contact with the viewer... well, this is a perfect riposte; no eyes yet no dilution of the contact or emotional engagement.

excellent photography

this is such a strong image (and taken with one of the best cam / lens / film combinations around too )
I think a crop to remove the sky would be useful (as suggested in the mod) for although this echoes and balances the white of the bowl is doesn't add too much (some context) and detracts from the excellent portrait (subject) higher contrasts help to give it a touch more punch

strong work

the people are not in a strong enough postion in the composition for me, and so I went for a more radical crop and boosted colours and tonality to get a more abstracted feel

I actually really like the background, it gives the image context, however the easiest way to remove a background like this is to use a piece of white foamboard (about a foot away - large enough to fill the frame)

I've gone for a similar take as Nick above, but it looks different again.

An effective image considering the limitations you must have worked with (P&S) I've supplied a mod; the squarer crop focuses the attention on the couple better and I've lightened a touch (a reflector would have been ideal when shooting)

there just seems a lot of space to the left in this image which adds little to the composition or central figure of the image, I've put up a mod therefore as a suggestion

the higher contrast of the single toned image gives it a touch more impact; I'd perhaps apply more contrast (especially darkening) to the first? concept works fine, eerie feel

there is a bit of latitude to reveal a fair amount of further detail in the BG if you require using something like elements, mod supplied to give an idea

with the emphasis and sharp focus being on the bubble, and not the eyes as would usually be expected then the bubble requires a touch more emphasis. I've put up a mod as a suggestion

I had to have a go at a mod to work out what was 'problematic' for me with this image, and it soon became apparent that it's the reflections on the floor, they are bright enough to be attracting/distracting to the herringbone design... the image is about the viewer viewing the photographs and so I've supplied a mod with a radical crop taking out all of the floor area.

the comp is not far off for me, I sort of agree about the track lines and tree, but the element that is 'missed' the foreground tree shadows are great... however, I see some of your dilemma; getting the distant city in shot, with the great fluffy clouds (always good for IR) meant that the 24mm was neither wide enough or flexible enough to have allowed any particular element to be the focus of attention in the comp. If you had say a 18-50mm lens for this I'm pretty sure that the comp would have been more focussed, less compromised. As far as the IR work goes, well the tonality (apart from the dominance of the large white) is well spread and the contrast good enough for the elements of the image to work.