Hi Steve,
Ok, let me see. Can I start with the ones I am not so keen on and work upwards so I can finish on a high note?
Don't worry, that doesn't mean I only like one!
Ok, the first shot: yes, I like it sort of but if you hadn't told us it was a shot of a derelict house I would have assumed the boat was the main subject and the house just a dark bit of building in the BG. A boat in reasonable condition sitting on its trailer waiting for its owner to come and haul it off for a day's boating really doesn't complement a picture about dereliction so for me you would get a much stronger image if you got in closer on the derelict house and made it the subject of the shot. Basically you have two different pictures here in the one shot and there is no logical tie between them. That isn't to say the technical side is a problem, it's just the content that I don't feel works.... IMHO!
Ok, the railway line, yup, ok, it's a railway line. No trains cos it's disused... which I know because you told me. Again, sorry but it is you that is telling me what to see in the picture, the image itself is not really doing much work. I don't hate the image at all and I desperately hope this isn't discouraging you in any way as it isn't supposed to at all, far from it (I promise I'll be giving you plenty to be encouraged about in a minute!) But if the old adage is true, that every picture tells a story, let the picture tell the story. If I can't get it without any explanation, the picture is perhaps not as strong as it could be, that's all I am really saying.
The selective mono, yup, it's ok. Doesn't keep my interest for too long because the bin is a bit ireelevant in the shot. If it is a grit bin and there was a load of snow or frost evident then it would really hang together nicely and be a strong image.
The old doors: I am warming up here, I like the image and effect because it says something: derelict and unwanted. I could do with just a bit less twigs in my face but I still like the shot and feel it is a reportage shot of the lack of respect some people have for their world. It is a touch flat, needs adjusting to cover the full range of luminance but that is easily done with the curves tool.
My favourite is without question the Urban Flowerpot (great title too!) which really does hold my attention a bit more. Again it lacks dynamic range so it could do with adjusting but I love the range of textures here and the composition is good. The way there is fullness of life coming from something that looks old and decaying fills me with a sense of hope. In my own personal opinion, that shot has the makings of being the best in this set by a long way. Just adjust contrat a touch and it's there, a real winner for me.
There you go, hope I wasn't too harsh, it was obviously a very productive walk and I admire the way you have looked for all sorts of different things to show that walk off, not just bits of the same thing.
Good work.
Rob