RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Hi, Mike! Thanks for your service! I'm a 90-year-old WW II vet , Army Air Force (no, not a flyer) who served three years, from late 1945 to late 1948, in the military occupation of Germany. I'd like to offer some suggestions to help you modify your six posted images. These ideas are based on my 50-some years as a commercial advertising photographer, and can all be done by you without too much trouble, I think. Save your originals so you can compare the results when you're finished.

Starting from the bottom, both of those shots are basically monochromatic and would benefit IMHO by converting them to B&W. The arches in the bottom shot have a lot of texture which is diffused by the lack of contrast. You can enhance the texture by using the image sharpening tool in your PP and then snap up the tonalities throughout the image. I recommend the following cropping change: eliminate the floor entirely, as well as the bit of wall on the right side. Make sure that you have a true black and little white somewhere in your B&W photo or it will start to look gray,

The second image with the long passage way would benefit from the B&W conversion and from a similar removal of foregrouund. I suggest cropping up from the bottom until the crop meets the point where the bottom of the third arch shadow meets the floor. Now the pattern of the arch shadows is obviously the subject of the photo and no longer competing with the long uninteresting walkway. There is a small window section along the left side that is best cropped off. Again, the overall range of tones in a B&W photo would be more appealing than the bland monochrome tones. There is some texture in the wall that you can experiment with, but be careful not to distract from the main subject, that row of arch shadows.

I have to go now but I'll get back to you on the others.

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

I really like #1, 5, & 6. Very well done, Mike!

JoAnneK01 Loc: Lahaina, Hawaii

Aloha Mike and welcome to UHH. I'd also like to say Mahalo for your service to our country. I salute you. The last two are my favorites. I do enjoy the shadows of the hallway the clicking of the heels as one walks it. The last photo could use a little more light, but it has very interesting lines. Again, many thanks for your service.
MSgt retired, USAF

AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

I like the last 3 the best - the dreamy quality of the sunset without the distraction of the posts; the lighting coming in down that hall; and the angles and lines of the brick structure. Semper Fi from a Marine Mom.

Maxwell12 Loc: Florida

One of the hardest things to get sometimes (because we want
to take pictures and get excited) is that is If there is not an interesting subject
the picture will not be interesting..

#1 What is the subject. There may be an interesting close up there
if you zero in on it.

#2,3,4 Snap shots to show the family where you were standing.

#5 &6 have potential for interest depending on how the light
comes through the windows and or your perspective. When you
find an interesting subject, you may have to return to it at different
times to see how it changes with different environmental conditions
and /or your perspective.

As someone who is also learning, I would say to think about what
it is about a scene that grabs you. Then look at that scene and see what
it is in that scene that interests you. In other words, keep narrowing
your focus until you find that area of interest that changes it from a
snap shot to a photograph that you would hang on a wall.

I read a book decades ago when we shot film and John Shaw said that
the difference between an amateur and a professional was the size
of their trash can because the pros would throw out 3 rolls of film
to get that one he was after.

Having gotten back into photography after decades away, I still struggle
with this.