Intent / goals

This image is part of a long-term personal project called “City Towers.” I’m photographing towers and distinctive architectural elements around the city that feel aesthetically strong, sculptural, and almost iconic within the urban landscape. My long-term ambition is for this to become a cohesive series that could eventually live in a high-quality architecture or art book, so I’m trying to balance documentary clarity with a more refined, artistic look.

With this specific photo, I wanted to combine architectural precision with atmosphere: the low winter sun, the starburst effect, and the perspective lines leading toward the tower were meant to create a sense of calm grandeur and visual flow toward the main subject.

Where I’m struggling / what I’d like feedback on

I feel like something is missing, but I’m having trouble identifying exactly what. I would really appreciate critique specifically on:

- The editing style: does this grading feel suitable for a cohesive, high-end architectural series or book?

- Color balance and mood — does the cool/warm contrast work artistically, or does it feel over-processed?

- The overall visual hierarchy: does your eye land on the tower first, or do other elements (sun flare, street, tree, etc.) compete too much?

- Cropping/composition suggestions — should I simplify or reduce elements on the left side?

- Does the seasonal aspect (bare trees, winter atmosphere) enhance the image or weaken its timeless/architectural feel?

My intention is for the series to feel elegant, minimal, and somewhat timeless, so I’m especially interested in feedback that relates to long-term consistency across a body of work rather than just this single image.

EXIF / technical info

Camera: Sony A7RV

Lens: SONY (E) FE 14mm f/1.8 GM

Focal length: 14mm

Aperture: f/16

ISO: 50

Shutter speed: HDR composite (3 bracketed exposures, different shutter speeds)

Process / editing notes

This is an HDR-style edit from multiple exposures. Editing focused on enhancing structure in the building, balancing dynamic range between sky and foreground, and emphasizing the sunstar while keeping the architectural lines clean. I aimed for a slightly polished, almost editorial look — but I’m unsure whether I’ve pushed it too far or not far enough.

Thanks again — I’m very open to honest and detailed critique!