Attached Link: My Pictures

Your body of work shows you have an inquisitive style. That is good. Your technique and composition need some work which you can easily obtain online through various photo tip sites or you can go to the library and get a basic book on photography. Images that speak to others require thought and good execution. It seems your work is film based judging from the dust and scratches on many of the images. At the risk of being pushy, go digital! No dust, no scratches, ever! You do not even need a computer since most department stores, drugstores and wholesale clubs have photo centers where you can print effortlessly. A basic digital camera can be bought for $150 or less these days. Keep being inquisitive and curious about your world. You need to move in closer and show us what is moving you to photograph it.

Not a bad start! There were several of your shots that I found quite good. I liked the cat silhouettes and the brick library shot. My personal favorite was the water closeup, I find those kind of shots moody and artful.
You also had several with good comp leading the eye into it.
Too many of them were "busy". Too many branches in the way, too many things in one picture without a definite subject standing out.
I love looking at the masters of Black and White and seeing the things that really hit me in their photos and then trying to capture that same look. Go to your local library and look at photography books or magazines to give you some inspiration and then get out there and keep at it. You'll find yourself! And don't give up if someone criticizes you, not everyone is going to like your style, learn from it and grow.

Thank you for your comments. It really helps to have people give honest opinions of my work.

Quote - It seems your work is film based judging from the dust and scratches on many of the images. At the risk of being pushy, go digital!

I have an older digital camera that I use, but I'm currently studying black-and-white film, and there are things that I like about it.

Quote - Too many of them were "busy". Too many branches in the way, too many things in one picture without a definite subject standing out.

I struggle sometimes with things like simplifying an image. Isolating subjects like you suggest is something that I'm still working on. I also have some borrowed photography books that i've already been poring over.

There are some nice shots in there where you have met the goal of isolating the subject. But watch your exposures too, #46 (the bench) for example is a tricky one: the intended (i believe) subject is a silhouette but the detail is in the surrounding area - so the eye doesnt know what to do.

Remember also that not every photo you take is a keeper.  It is difficult whan you are on a "budget" of film I would agree, but with every shot which you are about to take of a static scene, look at it... wait, move, look at it, think about it, try another angle, think about the lens (field of view), look again, picture you have just taken the photo and imagine what it would look like, wait a bit, then think about taking the photo itself.  Basically, spend longer on each shot thinking about each aspect - composition, what the subject is and thus the exposure, portrait/landscape? horizon straight? leading lines? interaction of background foreground, contrasts... etc If it is a static scene nothing will change generally (unless it is one of those days with quick changes in lighting - in which case, wait for it to change for the effect you want)

If you already do this, then you know what i mean, the essence then is to just keep practicing.  I have the luxury of digital, and i average i'd say a 1 in 20 keeper rate - that is almost one per roll of film, but then i can do that as i just delete the others, if i had to use film it would be a different ball game and i would think more about my photos rather than generally know what i am going for and fire off a few shots with minor differences so i can look at them later on a screen and decide then.  On that note - take a tripod out with you - it worked wonders for my thought process in composing the photos i take.

I'd agree with the comment to move closer and try to isolate the subject from the "busy-ness". Take the first Church shot as one example... if you were to move your shooting position forward and slightly to the right i reckon you could get it somewhat on its own (also, you cut the top of the spire - as it is the obvious subject of the photo, the convention is to have the whole subject in the frame).  

But that aside i would definitely agree with Steven, you have a very inquisitive eye with your photos - you want to find things to photograph and make something out of it, just keep going and you will improve - everyone does. That is the beauty of it all :)

As you know, I sent an e-mail  about the house photo and contrast.  I have done a very simple levels adjustment which shows quite a difference.  However, I will not post those here of your image unless you say it is ok.  If you prefer, I can put the very simple correction in  a locker you can go to and see.  (Film instructors can give advice on gettng more contrast in the original shot.)

I don't know what sort of photo editing software you have. You certainly have the 3d stuff to do the intriquing and fine renders in Terragen.   For photos, you may or may not have what you need to do editing of a digital image.   If it is ok to post the very simple contrast adjustment on the house image let me know.   Don't expect much...I did not do much but do show how it was done.          Tom. 

PS. The idea that you are posting and asking is super. There are many here much, much better than I am but I can help some.  This place is really what got me back into photos again and got me better than when I started here.

Quote - As you know, I sent an e-mail  about the house photo and contrast.  I have done a very simple levels adjustment which shows quite a difference.  However, I will not post those here of your image unless you say it is ok.  If you prefer, I can put the very simple correction in  a locker you can go to and see.  (Film instructors can give advice on gettng more contrast in the original shot.).

Don't know what e-mail you're referring to. Perhaps there was a problem in sending it. Anyway, I updated that image with an improved version. It looks slightly better now.

Quote - I don't know what sort of photo editing software you have.

I use primarily Paint Shop and Paint.NET. I use Paint Shop for losslessly compressing images as JPEG2000's and Paint.NET for levels adjustments. Also, when I need to do some serious work, there's GIMP. So I'm basically set in the post-processing and editing departments.