Greg- I've struggled a bit with that issue since 1981 or so, and I've lost a a few images to it. Luckily, never for a paying client. And I've been using a 90/8 Nikkor-SW for many years, and it's not that lens. It really is about having the back vertical; camera levels may not be accurate, and it's hard to see on a 4x5 groundglass. I've long carried a small 'torpedo' level for critical adjustments.
Of course I have a box full of prints of Rochesterian urban landscapes; most have never been digitized though. You can see some of them in my book "A Closer Look", still visible (and available) on Blurb.
Downtown Rochester has changed quite a bit since I moved away ten years ago. I hesitate to give much advice about subjects, but here are two possibles.
1) A view of the (now-closed) Kodak Hawkeye plant, from Maplewood Park across the river. I worked in that building for 25 years.
2) the giant Southeast Wall of Kodak Park, at Ridge Rd. West and Lake Avenue. EK's film manufacturing is still in those buildings.
Best of luck, I hope to see more of your work.
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