A Composition’s Dilemma in Black and White – One Shot Story

By Andrea Monti

20 March, 2026

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One Shot Story

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Street & Urban Photography
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This photo, taken in the centre of Padua, with my Nikon 35TI and a Ferrania P30, shows a composition’s dilemma.

The idea was to explore the usual technique of ‘framing’ a subject within an architectural structure to make it resemble a painting. Actually, though, the main subject, the biker and his vehicle, is more of a disturbance than something worth including in the picture.

He runs from right to left, an unnatural direction. Indeed, since we are accustomed to look from left to right and not vice versa, the bikes seems to go outside the frame rather than into it. Furthermore, I should have waited for the subject to be right in the centre of the image. Had I done so, however, a part of the double-arched window would have protruded from his head, like a pole planted on his skull.

One might say that the geometry of the scene and the intrusion of the bike work together to create an intrusion of speed into a static, ordered space, preventing the image from becoming purely abstract. However, in hindsight, taking a picture of the empty space would have been a much better option.

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About The Author

By Andrea Monti
My name is Andrea Monti. I’m an Italian free-lance journalist, photographer and – in my spare time – an hi-tech lawyer. The works I am more proud of are covering live jazz, pop and rock concerts for an Italian online music magazine and Opera and prose for a 200 years-old theatre. I also do sport photography mainly in athletics and fighting disciplines. You may find out more about me on https://andrea.monti.photography
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Comments

Gordon Ownby on A Composition’s Dilemma in Black and White – One Shot Story

Comment posted: 20/03/2026

You’re too hard on yourself on this one, Andrea! Actually, since the moto is on right side of the composition, I do not get the sense of the bike going outside the frame. My advice: Give this photo another couple of years and your appreciation of it will grow.
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Andrea Monti replied:

Comment posted: 20/03/2026

Will do!

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Walter T. on A Composition’s Dilemma in Black and White – One Shot Story

Comment posted: 20/03/2026

The photo is a good example of broken symmetry.
It’s not straightforward or obvious, but that’s precisely what gives it that certain something. Without the moped rider, something would definitely be missing.
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Andrea Monti replied:

Comment posted: 20/03/2026

Walter, I didn't see it from this angle. Thanks!

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Gary Smith on A Composition’s Dilemma in Black and White – One Shot Story

Comment posted: 20/03/2026

I suspect that you got other photos from that outing that you like.
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Andrea Monti replied:

Comment posted: 20/03/2026

Gary, Actually I didn't. This one the only frame out of the whole roll that was taken there.

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Scott Berends on A Composition’s Dilemma in Black and White – One Shot Story

Comment posted: 20/03/2026

I like the photo for the motion. The left to right direction isn’t problematic for me either - Bresson did it so you’re in good company. The weakness I see with the photo is that it’s unbalanced in the archway frame. The frame is centered but the column inside the frame is not. A small step to the left and a counteracting pan to the right would have fixed that issue. All in all though, a great shot that I spent perhaps too long looking at and dissecting (it is the middle of the work day after all)
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Andrea Monti replied:

Comment posted: 20/03/2026

Scott, Yes it is unbalanced and this is why to me the composition is not optimal. I failed to factor all the elements of the equations, only focusing the attention on the moped.

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Jalan on A Composition’s Dilemma in Black and White – One Shot Story

Comment posted: 21/03/2026

Andrea, The only problem I see with the photo is the display size is too big to see the entire photo on my computer screen! I wonder if your self critique is actual dissatisfaction with the image or more driven by arbitrary "rules" you have internalized through interactions with other photos and photographers? Artists create and technicians optimize. But in a world of AI images the "optimize" space is being taken over by computers. Your imperfect image is very human and, to me, that is the point of analog processes!
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Andrea Monti replied:

Comment posted: 21/03/2026

Jalan, I think that everyone develops their own visual language and, consequently, a set of rules over time. These rules may be arbitrary, but without them, there would be no language and no way to express oneself. However, this does not mean that taking photos is like solving a maths equation or applying the rules of syllogism. Personally, I don't actually follow 'rules'. I have a set of core ideas that I try to practise, more or less intentionally. I wouldn't claim that they are 'the way', and you could hardly call what I do 'art'. My photos are simply the steps of a journey that I choose to take each day, or that might end in every moment. As life itself, I would dare to say. :)

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Jalan replied:

Comment posted: 21/03/2026

Andrea, I really like your thought that "photos are simply the steps of a journey that I choose to take each day.." sounds like "art" to me! I used to do lots of film and digital work and now do mostly wet plate collodion. Most every day I am either creating an image or doing work around the images (chemical preparation, making glass plates, making frames, etc.). Not sure why I do this but it just feels better to be creating than not. "Life itself" indeed!

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