Hi Sam.
Here i was thinking I was pissing into the wind with my comments. I'm chuffed.
Firstly, my comment about the lack of people or their relative distance was an observation, not a criticism. You have the capacity to capture the nackeness of a place and the observational distance you use detatches you from the scene as well. Again, this isn't a criticism, its an observation. My belief, for what its worth, is that it suist your purpose very well. Having followed you blog for a while now I see you as an observer not a participant in your surroundings, and a casual one at that, almost unintentional, as if you are a visitor wnadering aimlessly and noting the peculiarities of the culture around you. I find it interesting, unique and stimulating to think that there is someone out there who sn't intent on producing photos like everyone else for some aethetic reason but for your own purpose.
As for this photo, I could probably troll through my stuff and find a shot of the same place, probably occupied with the same socialist group. I think I recognise the chick with the megaphone.
What a great shot!! The loud group with their backpacks and table shouting into the crowd who are intent on getting acroos the road out of ear shot, the 4 quakers staring off into the wilderness in silent prayer, the gap in between the two groups, the fat chick seemingly crossing over and the old quaker looking at her as if to say "I think we have one". The starkness of the geometry outlines this aspect of the scene with the 'stairway' to heaven off to the left with the guy providing a guide to how to get there. And finally as the perfect backdrop, the city with all its business and order, seemingly unaware of what small dramas occur below.
As for your timing. Its perfect. Thats because you were ther and so was this scene and now we know that. Knowing what you do, it couldn't be better.
As a final comment, what I have read here is a series of comments about how others would like to see things. Too busy, not busy enough, straighten this cut that out, come back later, all relate to how others would like to see you photo. Í think its a far better approach for you to take the photos as you see themm and let us do the work in finding our own value.
A[pologies about the spelling. I'm working in the dark here. Christine is still asleep, Shhhh!