Photo Analysis: Milano

Photo by: @donamtykl

Let’s Analyse this Image:

Composition

What Works:

• That puddle reflection is the star of the show. It adds this dreamlike quality, making the whole scene feel twice as big.

• The cathedral is perfectly centered, pulling your eye straight in.

• The surrounding buildings naturally frame the shot, keeping everything focused and in line.

• The person walking adds scale and a small human element, making the scene feel more alive.

What Could Be Better:

• The power lines cutting across the sky are a bit distracting. Not a dealbreaker, but they do break up the clean look. Editing them out (I know…not everyone’s cup of tea) would solve this problem. Me personally I would have edited them out.

• The reflection at the bottom feels a little tight—just a bit more space could make it breathe better and make it fell more balanced.

Lighting & Mood

What Works:

• The warm golden light hitting the cathedral makes it glow—it feels ethereal. I very nice touch.

• The contrast between the warm sky and cooler shadows adds depth and makes the details pop.

• The soft clouds in the background complement the scene nicely without pulling away too much of your attention.

What Could Be Better:

• If there were slightly more dramatic clouds, it could enhance the atmosphere even more. However that is of course not the photographers fault.

Story & Emotion

What Works:

• There’s this cool contrast between movement and stillness—the person walking adds life, while the reflection/the puddle stays completely frozen.

• The empty streets give the image a very peaceful vibe.

What Could Be Better:

• The person is slightly off-center—if they were more in the middle, the symmetry might feel even stronger.

• A second person in the distance or some light activity could add another layer to the story without making it too busy.

Depth & Perspective

What Works:

• The low (lower) angle makes the Duomo feel even more massive and grand. Another very nice touch (those small details matter)

• The mirror effect from the puddle almost doubles the sense of space, making the shot even more immersive.

• The sharp details in the foreground contrast well with the softer background, adding a great sense of depth.

What Could Be Better:

• The background fades a little too much—a touch more clarity on the distant buildings could help keep the depth strong.

• The signs on the left and right sides slightly break the historical mood (as well as the construction work by the cathedral on the left side (which really is a pain))—somehow cropping or softening or editing them could keep the scene feeling more timeless. But again not everyone's cup of tea doing that.