Walking in Lausanne

[Joseki]

Hello!
My first post in "Critique my shot"... I'm excited!

Ok that's the point: I took this photo some weeks ago in Lausanne (Switzerland).
I like the mood of this pic and I think it has some potential but I can't just show enough the dramaticity of the sky, in contrast with the tranquillity of the people walking in the street...
Any suggestion? Feel free to modify it and repost in this thread!
(Sorry if I mispelled some words, i'm italian...)

[Sime]

Hey there!... glad to see you are posting already I really love the moodiness of this shot!... very dark. I would straighten it a tiny bit but then I'd leave it as it is. well.. maybe stick a tiny tiny little bit more contrast in there... nice!

[Saralonde]

For me it's a little dark. I'd like to see it brightened up a little, but not so much that you lose that dramatic sky.

Welcome Joseki to dps!

[Joseki]

Thank you both for the suggestions!
I applied some more contrast and brightness just to the buildings and the result is quite good, a stronger contrast between the cloudy sky and the buildings!

[rikkersc]

I agree with the straightening a little bit. Although it looks like the rooftops are straight, maybe it is just the road that isn't straight.
I have that same problem with straight horizons when the ground is not level ... you have to choose something to be off - either the buildings or the ground. If that is the case, I would leave it. It looks like the road is going up a slight hill.

[Joseki]

You're right rikkersc! Lausanne is a city built upon a hill so many of the roads are not straight! However my shot was 0,1° tilted left good eye!
I had to chose to have the fooftops straight or the street straight. I think having the rooftops straight add more stability.

[thingy]

Welcome.

Would have been a great subject for HDRI, but then maybe I just can't get it out of my head at the moment

G

[soxboston]

I think you made the right choice between rooftops straight and streets straight. Another option to this shot would be to venture a little closer to the building and shot upwards at it. This would give the building and sky a much more "looming" appearance that could look pretty cool. However, you would lose the people in the shot and you would only be able to capture a smaller portion of the building. Sometimes a sacrifice needs to be made!

[YoAshnish]

I like the edited version better. Boosting the contrast, to me, added more drama. Nice capture and good editing!

[rowan]

I think you have a great mood and contrast, but in order to tell a story like you wish you probably need to get a little closer. Consider what is currently in your foreground-an empty bench, not much to draw your attention to. Maybe you could try cropping up to the opposite sidewalk and see what you think. Also see if you can brighten up the building while darkening the clouds a bit rather than affecting the levels of the entire building.

For future endeavors, since all your lines are vertical or horizontal, there is no intersecting point for your viewers. Maybe next time you can also try a different viewpoint, say on the same side of the street as the hotel.