Strolling through Genoa’s Centro Storico the other night I took this street photograph with my Fuji X-T2 and the Fujinon XF 1:2.8-4/18-55mm R LM OIS. I like this shot, for the composition, color balance, light, gesture and the story. I tried a monochrome conversion, but stuck with color. You might note, that the neon sign of the little Trattoria is inverted, as it is transparent and shows the “right” side uphill to were likely more potential customers come from when walking down Via San Bernardo towards the port area. So when doing post production in Lightroom Classic, I mirrored the image horizontally, so the sign reads the right way. But with that, I think, the photograph lost its visual balance. Check for yourself after the jump….
When I compare the two images, I find the original version has the better visual balance. Maybe, because in our western culture we are wired to read and look at things from left to right. The left side is colorful and bright, the main subject is looking from left to right, while the right side of the photograph is rather dark. In the mirrored version, the viewer’s eye starts with a dark area, moves against the gaze of the lady. Maybe this is what disturbs me.
The Significant Other, agreeing with my sentiments, also states that an unreadable sign as in the original version is less defocusing to the viewers eye than the “clear text” version in the second image, where the viewer might try to decipher the name of the Trattoria. Maybe another of a lot of little things that make me like the original version better, even if a lot of this is probably perceived subconscious. But maybe you totally disagree. I’d be interested to hear your views, please leave a comment below.
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Have a great Sunday
Marcus
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