This photo was submitted by Dan Gerth.
I have to say up front that I really like this photograph. And the title really brings it all together.
What I like: clean, simple composition with strong graphics and a very well established center of interest. Really nice color harmony, with warm and cool tones interacting in a very dynamic way. The juxtaposition of the kids’ lemonade stand against the “big brother” of the higher-end store is very appealing. This photo has a great story, and loads of character.
What doesn’t work for me: although the shadows are deep and dark and should be, they are actually quite plugged up, with some posterization around their boundaries. In these transition areas, color noise is very evident. I’d like to see some smoother transitions here. Also, there appears to be some chromatic aberration visible in the lines of the shingles on the front of the building.
This is a wonderfully expressive image, made under difficult shooting conditions. With a little technical refinement this can be an excellent image.
Thanks, Dan, for submitting your photo… really nicely done!