I am not sure this really captures "absence" for me, but I like the shot nonetheless.

This is a really wonderful shot! I think the colors of the skyline are well done to depict an urban sort of setting, and the textures captured in the water suggest a bit of pollution. The shopping cart captured the idea of ABSENCE in a very vital and strong manner, and its lower left placement contrasted nicely with the position of the urban area. Very high marks!!!

Must be Germany... only they mistrust and dislike their own customers so much that they force them to rent a shopping cart for a Euro.

The Composition is good, I like the branches in front of the building. A longer exposure (tripod, graduated ND filter) would have given this a special quality beyond what it has now... but who has that with them when walking around?

I think this would have been better in b&w. The colour isnt helping. The composition is very cool, and the light spot on

Very nice. Seems retro in colors.