duomo di milano

Hi all!

I think that this is a good picture but a lot of friends of mine say it's

awful but none of them explain why.

Since I value so much the opinion of our community I would like to

receive honest critiques that explain to me if and why this picture is not

a good one.

Thank-you in advance

Mauro

La foto non è male, ma secondo me vi sono dei piccoli difetti: un po' inclinata a sn (ma può essere colpa del grandangolo, a 12 mm), modificabile comunque. La distorsione del 12 mm si vede dal volto della donna a ds, da croppare. Avrei atteso che il cielo si liberasse dalla scia dell'aereo (ma non sempre è possibile). I lavori in corso (?) sulle guglie non aiutano. Ingrandita si nota un'eccessiva morbidezza della facciata del duomo (un pizzico di maschera di contrasto non guasta). Ma nel complesso è una buona foto di street, con un bel contrasto fra parte in ombra (comunque leggibile) e lo sfondo illuminato del duomo. Per questo per me vale almeno 6. Awful??? ma che amici hai?. Cercherò di allegare una mia piccola versione. Alle prossime, Antonio

Mauro,

Your friends won't tell you why they think it's a bad picture, but you haven't told us why you think it's a good picture.  Tell us what you like about the shot.

Antonio presented a modest crop, which depending on your taste may be an improvement.  His crop eliminated an interesting part of the picture, though - the disembodied head sticking out from the luggage.  Maybe that part of the picture is the most interesting part.  But that only makes it a distraction to the real point of the photo - which was what?

Mark

Hi Antonio, and thank-you for your precise analysis of the picture. All what could be done to correct the 12mm distorsion has been made. Actually the original was much more distorted. I will post, later today, that pic.

Hi Mark, you are right. I didn't tell why I like it. Let's try! I didn't want to "portrait" the monument. In such case I would have waited until next november when the restoration works of the main spire will be finished, i would have chosen a different time, maybe 6AM and would have used a tripod with some ND64 or e more filter to have and extra long exposure and no people at all. My goal was to take a picture that represented the Duomo and its square (Piazza del Duomo) for what they actually are in a normal week-end: a place full of the most eterogeneous mass of people interested in meeting among a lot of other people and totally unaware of the monumentality of the place.

Thank-you to both of you, friends, for the time and the effort.

Mauro

Nice one. i prefer the crop by Antonio better. compliments -koushik

In fact I think that the interesting thing in this photo is the  1:1 ratio of the dimensions of the Duomo and the man in the foreground .Probably this is the "something" that catches the eye here. The contrast of lighting of these two subjects (shadow on the man , light on the Dome ) adds a tension in the image.The attitude of the man is somehow phlegmatic if not defiant to the magnificent bright facade of the marvelous landmark of Milano . Not shure about the crop , maybe Antonio is right about it.

Not a bad photo ,I like it too .

Regards, Teo 

Hi Teo, and thank-you for your thoughts. In effect the contrast between the "small" man and the "big" landmark was intriguing for me too. I'm happy you like this "controversial" shot.

Mauro

Actually I prefer too Antonio's crop. Thanks a lot

Mauro

I rather like this image. I saw this marvellous Cathedral back in 1973, it was absolutely POURING RAIN, no people to be seen. It was a very dark day, and while I only saw it for a few moments, it was a highlight of a 'business trip' I was on.

The people in the far distance truly display just how immense this lovely Cathedral is. I found it to be 'breathtakingly beautiful' when I first set eyes on it - even in the rain! And it still conjurs that feeling in me, in this photograph. I think the POV is excellent, and about the only thing I would maybe do is crop out the person on the far right (where you only see their head/luggage?)

You had a beautiful sunny day to visit this popular spot. I imagine there are few days when this Square is empty of people. Very nice capture Mauro!

Warm regards, Gail

Hi Gail, and thank-you very much for your words. If I understand correctly your thoughts you suggest a crop like that proposed by Antonio.

As far as to have the "Piazza Duomo" empty of people the chances are two: 1) a very rainy day (as you experienced), or 2) a very early pre-dawn morning and this is what I want to try during the next weeks (I live in Milan, of course).

I will submit the results to the community and I'll wait for your personal verdict!  :-) 

Mauro