Hyperfocal was acceptable here, but I have a bit of overexposure at the white signs on the top. But should I have corrected some EV down, the dark window of Li Tai Pe would be almost completely black and the cobblestones wouldn't look as wet, since the reflections would be captured much weaker. Could it be that a filter would do miracles here?
Of course, since there will be always differences between any two personal perceptions, a perfect objectivity seems to be impossible to achieve. So we switch one level down to that kind of "objectivity" that depends on the perception (and also vision) of the one that shoots the photo. There has to be that kind of trust between all of us that ensures: the posted photo is not posted because it just looks "nice" - this would be too easy. Just shoot enough without thinking and some of them will be "nice". This is unfortunately too often the case ;-) - but more than that, because it is a more or less successful try to capture *the own vision* onto a photo.
So, there is another kind of "objectivity" which rather refers to the objectivity against the own self. I could just post some photos because they look "nice", though strictly spoken, they are nothing more but failures of mine to capture some particular atmosphere in some particular way that I wished to capture, no matter how "nice" they may look.
For example in this case I could simply say that this is a nice photo of mine. But since it was not exacttly what I thought of *before* shooting, it only proves that my skills have to be improved. I have to think, to retry, to consciously choose my settings next time. And accepting these own failures is not only for the sake of sincerity, which is one of the most basich things in all arts, but also the very fundament for any kind of improvement.
Now to the photo itself. A different kind of the days, you say... So let me retry that some day. It sounds very promising!
You've presented your case quite well, and I am forced to agree: your image is, in fact, overexposed. Since I was not present at the time the image was taken, I will take your word for it that you were unsuccessful in your attempt at an 'as is' capture.
You also mention an interesting concept - that of objectivity. A photo is only as objective as the photographer, and none of us is without bias. I do think, however, that it is something worth striving for.
You make a good point also regarding the 'grittyness' of the photo. The change would likely only be subtle, with a downward correction. To make a more noticeable difference the image would need to be underexposed, or taken at a different time of day, with a different lighting situation.
Hi Jason, and thank you very much for the nice and informative comment!
The personal impression of overexposure/underexposure is related of course to the vision - that what existed in mind before shooting. But there is also something somehow more objective. In this case you can really detect on the photo that the letters of the white signs are overexposured - they are not as easily readable as they were at shooting time. And since my own wish was to capture that *as is* - which didn't completely succeeded, both ways of consideration tell me that at least that part is a bit overexposed.
Indeed, a correcture downwards would increase "grittyness" but I am not sure if a slightly increased grittyness would be enough to change the atmosphere significantly, of which you talked about.
As about sun and rain, well, for the time being we have none of both here around. We have only... cold - but perhaps it also belongs to the important things. Though I would rather choose the economic approximation for reducing the number of important things, and ommit cold from them ;-)
Overexposure or underexposure is determined by whether or not you achieved the image you aimed for or not. If you had corrected EV down, this would be a grittier street photo. Many good street photos are just that, and that would have made a fine picture.
I also think this is a fine street photo as it is. The reflections captured off the cobblestone and the general lightness of this image give it a more hopefull atmosphere: it has rained, but now it is brighter. Afterall, both rain and sun are necessary for life, correct?
Thanks a lot, Luis! There is anything you could imagine in the old town of Lucerne. Chinese restaurants, Iranian takeaways, british metalpubs, american snack bars, you name it! And all the time there's a joke to here.
Excellent. The Chinese writing in the middle of an old European medieval town looks a bit strange but welcomed. Everybody needs a "pu-pu plater" every once in a while.
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