Photo Analysis: A Lisbon Alley

What works well:

The centered perspective works great here. That rail running straight down the middle just pulls your eyes in and guides you all the way to the person in the distance, it’s super effective.
The vertical crop really helps emphasize how tight and steep the alley is. Everything feels a bit squeezed in, which adds some nice tension (and just overall ‘‘funnels’’ the viewers eyes down to our subject).
Having that tiny person right at the end of the alley gives the shot a clear focal point. They’re small, but they anchor the whole thing and add character/story to the shot.

What could be better:

The person doesn’t separate super well from the background. It’s not terrible, but they do blend in a bit with the lighter wall behind them, which makes them slightly harder to notice at first (quick) glance. A simple way to fix this would be to darken the background just a touch with a radial or linear mask, or selectively lift the shadows and clarity on the person to make them pop more.

What works well:

The straight-on view gives the image structure. Everything feels deliberate and locked in place, super clean.
The perspective does a good job exaggerating the depth, you can feel how long and narrow this street is.

What could be better:

Framing feels a little tight at the top. It would be nice to see just a bit more of the rooftops or the upper windows.
If the photographer had gotten even lower to the ground, that leading line from the rail could’ve been even stronger—and it might have made the buildings feel more towering and dramatic.
Another option could be a slight diagonal composition—just enough to make it feel a bit more dynamic without losing those clean lines.

What works well:

The lighting is very nice — clean, natural and calm.
There’s some really nice detail caught through the light (on the walls, in the laundry etc.) it gives the scene life without overdoing it.
The shadows act like a natural vignette, keeping the focus centered.

What could be better:

The shadows on the left side of the frame are quite a bit heavier than on the right, which throws off the symmetry just a little. Since the image is clearly aiming for that “perfect” balanced/symmetrical vibe, this imbalance can feel slightly distracting. Brightening the left wall selectively or pulling up the shadows could help restore that visual balance without compromising the overall mood. Interestingly thought (I only noticed after a while) since the laundry is hanging on the right side only (that is where the sun is shining of course) it does add visual weight to the top right of the image. Now does this help balance it out better? Yes! Is it enough though? In my opinion no (while it does get better) for me personally the shadows are still too ‘‘heavy’’.
Also: lifting the shadows just a bit could help bring back some of the detail without losing the atmosphere.

What works well:

The colors are really natural. The soft tones on the walls, hints of colour in the laundry, but also the colourful buildings themselves, all work together nicely without clashing.
That warmth from the buildings keeps the scene feeling inviting, even with the deep shadows.
It has a subtle, almost film-like look, nothing over-edited.

What could be better:

Some of the textures in the darker areas get a bit muddy. Pulling up the blacks just a notch or adding some local contrast (like through a tone curve or selective dodge and burn) would bring those areas back to life without breaking the atmosphere.
A little more tonal separation between the warm foreground and the cool background could make the photo feel even richer.
While the look is very subtle and not "over-edited" at all (which is good), trying to increase overall saturation a bit and making the colors pop more (especially the painted walls) could give the scene more energy, uniqueness and character. And in my opinion those beautiful walls deserve it!