The shadow on the ground does not correspond to the shadow on the sides of the aquaduct arch, and it is too light in color. Too visually disconcerting.
Really interesting concept. Just need to tighten the execution a bit.

The black shadows are obviously pasted on, they're bigger than the surface they're on, and they don't correspond to the shape of the gate.

OK, thanks for constructive criticism although the non-corresponding of the black shadows WAS intentional

it was changed and the shadow on the ground also was blacked to be less visually disconcerting

Author, the shadow is better, but no shadow is 100% black. If you lower the shadow opacity you could have something here. GL.

again, i considered the pure black to be arty kinda thing

but it was changed i think for the better, general burn"n"dodge was applied as well

MUCH improved, more visually consistent now, which makes for a more enjoyable appreciation of the piece.
Author, you will find that pure black, like pure white, is seldom an effective "arty kinda thing," because being extremes, they tend to dominate an image, so *in general*, you want to have them visually consistent to fit the visual dominance they will exert, which the shadow now effectively does.

LOL...now that all that stuff is out of the way, I'd like to point out that the light source is from the upper right, so the shadow is completely opposite the light source.

i see where your coming from on that, but on the source picture of the desert the shadows of the tree are extending to the right, so i went with that,
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thanks for all the help gold hands for all!!