Quote Originally Posted by Jim A View Post
Am a great fan of architecture and am slowly learning about light. I do really like this image very much, Manfred. Though having fetish for manipulating images, I would have right away done something about the snow (probably substitute grass or whatever) - but why do so in this image? ----- could be that I have learned something
Where my photography has gone over the past couple of years is working to downplay or remove distracting elements. I generally try to downplay these elements, rather than replace them as this often looks more realistic. Distracting elements tend to do so because they they stand out. The correct amount is definitely up for interpretation.

If you compare to where I went with this image; the original in #15 had a fairly bright patch of snow. I burned that down somewhat for #1, but some members felt that it was still too bright and distracting, so I went to the version I did in #10.

When I look at all three versions, I suspect I will burn down the siding material on the building on the very left. I did not really notice it before, but it pulls the eye there a bit more than I would like.