A well composed image with good black and white treatment. I like the musician’s expression, you can almost hear the song. I would have cloned out the chewing gum on the pavement and added a touch more contrast but this is a strong image and I expect it to do well.

Mark Says: Good B&W conversion, though I wonder why it was done.
Busker looks to have lots of energy and that is captured here. Composition is good. Bit of space above his head, which is not reflected anywhere else.

I’m afraid this doesn’t do an awful lot for me because the sky is blown out and it feels rather flat. A levels adjustment would help and also a boost of saturation. The people do add interest to the shot and I really like how the photographer has captured the man going into the pub.

Mark Says: Bland sky somewhat spoils this shot. Lot of lens distortion with the buildings leaning in from both sides. Easily corrected in you favourite editor.

The bright clothes make the selective colour processing work really well but does it fit the theme? For me it just isn’t ‘city’ enough but I do like the processing and framing. I think cloning out the cranes would strengthen this shot even further.

Mark Says: The selective colour is an excellent idea for this shot. However, bits have been missed, which does detract.

My first entry. I was disappointed that Urbis was closed and therefore not lit up. I also wish I’d arrived earlier when there was still some detail in the sky. I really like all the neon signs and I want to go back and get some more shots.

Mark Says: Taken a bit too late – dusk is better for this type of shot when you can keep some details in the sky.

If that’s the case then I hope you had a photo buddy with you lol! I really like the composition and all the different shapes that make up the image. The lit up stairs are a really strong focal point. If I’m being picky then I’d clone out the bit of rubbish in the bottom right and include the whole of the lamp in the top left.

Mark Says: Dangerous it might be, but it doesn’t look it from this shot. It’s too bright in the foreground to give it some atmosphere.

A sad part of street life and so this photo has a strong message. I think a slight levels and saturation adjustment would further improve this image as would cloning out the bottle top.

Mark Says: A too often seen scene. A bit too much of a record for me to work really well. There is no real sense of location. Pulling back might be a better option.

One of my favourites this month. The composition and processing are both very strong and the people give this photo the feeling of a busy city centre. My eye is drawn away from the focal point by the man’s trousers on the right of the image. I know I’m being picky but a bit of burning would sort this out.

Mark Says: Black and white works well here, though is a bit too dark in the foreground. The bright central area of the image has fooled the cameras meter.

An interesting record shot which are often of use to local newspapers and the like. Unfortunately a lot of the sky is blown out and the image feels rather flat. However the composition is good with a strong lead in line and I think boosting the saturation and adjusting the levels or curves could turn this into a really strong image.

Mark Says: The sky is blown out, which is a shame as it looks like there could have been some interest in it.

Another well processed selective colour image. The composition is very good with the sign having been placed on an intersection of thirds. Again by including people it has brought the image to life. It’s a shame the sky is blown out but I don’t think that’s as off putting in black and white. I’d be tempted to clone out the building in the top right as it is suffering from camera distortion.

Mark Says: Some nice strong leading lines take the viewer into the shot. Otherwise, though, it doesn’t do it for me.

I really like this but I’m not convinced it fits the theme all that well. It feels more like a small town street than that of a city. Having said that the image is really atmospheric and I love the starbursts from the lights. It’s a shame the lamp is cut off on the right edge and I might go for a tighter crop to remove this altogether.

Mark Says: Another night shot that would have benefited from being taken at dusk to leave some colour in the sky.
I also wonder who Mike Hammer is?

This image definitely has the hustle and bustle feel of a busy city street. I really like the strong focal point but I think a full body shot with the pavement included would improve it further. Of course this might not have been possible if there were a lot of foreground distractions. I don’t mind the vignette in the top left corner because it draws the eye into the photo.

Mark Says: Not really sure this meets the theme – it seems more about the man than the street.
Anyway, the vignette top left is pulling my eye away from everything else in the shot. In fact, looking again, there is a vignette all around the image that is not working for me.

Another sad image that has been well executed. The way the man has his head bowed really gives you the feeling that he has all but given up. I’d have liked a touch more contrast but I think this is a very poignant image and one that should do well.

Mark Says: I was expecting more of these, if I’m honest and this one is not a bad effort.
I think I would have liked to have seen it from a lower viewpoint. It looks too much like the photographer is looking down on him.

I’m struggling to find a focal point here but I do like the perspective and atmosphere. I like using a small aperture to turn the street lights into starbursts but I appreciate that this isn’t to everyone’s taste. I think moving a bit further up the alley would enable you to use the bollards as bold foreground interest.

Mark Says: Seems to be a dark area just above the light running left to right which pulls the image down.
The handrail at the front of the image is chopped off. A lower viewpoint might have worked better.

My second entry and again I was disappointed that it was too late for the sky to have retained any interest. I was hoping for a few more traffic trails as well but I’m very happy with how my new camera and lens combination has coped with the challenging lighting.

Mark Says: Again, taken too late in the evening to keep some detail in the sky. Its a shame the light trail stop half way across – would have been good to see them go around the corner.

Wonderful detail in the sky and excellent processing overall but does it fit the theme? I’m also struggling to find a focal point but the overall composition is good with the skyline placed on a third.

Mark Says: The title I guess is referring to the man on the seat. But is very small in the frame for my taste.
The sky is fantastic and really lifts the shot, though overall the tones don’t make it a great B&W conversion.