Old and New: critiquing my own photos.

Welcome to my latest blog, which this week highlights two of my very different photographs, which are nevertheless connected by the theme of Old and New. I have tried to give you a critique of the images, which as a serious photographer I think is something you need to learn how to do. Please feel free to add your comments, after all, it's all about learning.

Taken in Berlin in June 2023. I feel this photo has a strong sense of place and contrast. The vintage Trabant cars (an iconic symbol of Communist East Germany) in the foreground are the immediate focal point, which I think inject character, nostalgia, and humour, especially when set against the clean, modern apartment blocks behind them. This juxtaposition—old versus new, playful versus austere—is, I feel, the image’s greatest strength.

In terms of composition, I deliberately positioned the cars slightly off-centre, which I felt added balance and kept the scene from feeling static. However, although the clear daylight and blue sky provide good overall exposure, I think the lighting is fairly flat. I could have taken the photo at a different time of day to provide added depth and texture. The photo was actually taken around 7pm. 

The photo would definitely benefit from cropping because the foreground pavement occupies a large portion of the frame, so cropping from the bottom would tighten the composition.

Overall, I am happy that it’s an engaging documentary-style image with a clear narrative, but feel that it could be strengthened by a more deliberate framing and more expressive light.

This photograph was taken in a neglected farm yard near Bassenthwaite in The Lake District. I took the photo because I felt there was a strong sense of character and place, driven by the contrast between hard, weathered industrial surfaces (the old) and the softness of the plants and flowers (the new). The corrugated metal and stained concrete wall I felt formed a textured, neutral backdrop that somehow amplified the colour and vitality of the greenery and blooms in the foreground.

It's an informal composition because I wanted to capture the repetition of the concrete buttresses, which created some sort of rhythm, however, the introduction of organic shapes of the tree stump planter and varied pots help break that rigidity. The stump was my focal point, its sculptural form and mossy texture I think anchor the image and reinforce the theme of nature reclaiming space.

The colours of the plants, the reds, pinks, and purples are vivid without feeling oversaturated, and I think they sit well against the muted greys and browns. 

What would I do differently? Well. I think on reflection the frame feels slightly busy, probably making the viewer's eye jump between many points of interest. A tighter crop or clearer visual hierarchy would definitely strengthen the composition.

Overall, I think the image works well as a study in contrast—industrial decay (the old) versus cultivated (new) life. 

I hope you have enjoyed reading about these photos, just two of the many thousands I have taken. Please feel free to comment, and to pass details of my blog to your friends and relatives. 

You can see more of my photos and read my thoughts about smartphone photography on Instagram and Threads and now on my WhatsApp channel @smart_phone_photography_53.

© Mike Young 2026.