My city like 100 years ago

Hi Olivier - I'm looking at a misty image of an Italian town, with a basilica on the LHS , three couples in the fore and mid ground, a street running into the distance and further old buildings on the RHS.

I've found the image under "newest infrared", but having looked at the camera data (EOS 5D Mk II, 1/25 s, f/6.3, ISO 100) and at the image itself, I find it hard to see this as an IR shot unless you have converted a 5D Mk II. Even then the dark clothes of the people seem odd, as often dark clothes are seen as light in an IR shot. No doubt, you'll tell me whether it is IR or not.

The image is very appealing, moody, misty, and set off by there being three and only three couples. The tonal range is well covered, but limited to the lower to mid range, essential for the mood. There are spots of bright light from car headlamps and shop lights. I would have taken out the car lamp in the centre bottom, the one behind the RHS couple. I think it distracts.

The palette is very restricted, effectively monochromatic, with a tinge of sepia - all very effective for the subject and mood.

Sharpness is not an issue here, the softness of the misty buildings and street is what counts.

The composition in general I think is very good, apart from one area. On the very RHS there is a triangular portion of roof, about 3/4 of the way up from the ground, and, there are parking and other signs on a post. All these I think are intrusive and spoil the rest of the composition. In this instance, the matter is easily remedied by cropping, perhaps 1/16 th of the frame on the RHS. That would even pull the vanishing misty street a little more to the RHS, moving it onto a vertical "third". There might also be an issue with the lean of the buildings on the RHS. The idea of having both LHS and RHS leaning in is good - definitely a plus in this type of image. I just wonder if it is too much on the RHS.

Finally, I want to come back to the three couples. I suspect slight photographer's luck here, but the placement of these groups really makes this image for me. There is foreground interest in what would otherwise be a dull area, they add scale, and they help take the eye into the image(is there an Italian equivalent for the French term "repoussoir?).

Overall, a super shot, well executed, intriguing, moody, possibly to be enhanced by some cropping.

David