In my defense, Tony wanted a critique, and I gave him my opinion with intent to help make the image better, but I also think I was clear that it was only my opinion and was not necessarily his, even though I did not state it explicitly. Same for cropping: I don't have the same sensitivities as Russ, nor the same background obviously in street. Cropping in camera or in post, to me, depends on the image. Sometimes I find that if I am too connected to the subject through the viewfinder rather than looking in the VF, my in camera composition comes up short and it is only in post that I can assemble enough objectivity to define my vision better by cropping, YMMV. Your idea, Tony, of coming in lower (and perhaps tighter to accommodate what I was trying to get at) would work well, I think. As for the other comments (all reasonable BTW in my view), I cannot know what is in the mind of the photographer; I can only react to what I see. If an image is in User Critiques, I assume helpful criticism is being sought; that's why I post here. Stamper, obviously you didn't care for my critique or my ideas; both are different BTW, but I find it curious this unspoken rule about "don't mess with the photog's vision" (to paraphrase); why else post in User Critiques? We all get stymied by an image and profit from others' analyses at times. I may be inferring this, so forgive me if I have misunderstood your comments. I also do not post my best or most satisfying (to me) images here in UC, only the ones I truly want feedback on; if I am happy with it and I want to post it, I will put it elsewhere. Tony did not ask for specific advice about cropping or tonality or perspective, he asked what I thought. So I gave him what I could, just as you do so often and helpfully.
Perhaps there is another forum, thread, or discussion regarding whether it absolutely positively has to be gotten right in camera or not. Not trying to put words in anyone's mouth and did not mean to turn attention away from Tony's OP.