None of Your Business

Shot in Milan, this image hinges on a moment of urban simultaneity: the pedestrian engrossed in his phone and the cyclist passing through the frame. The visual connection is understated yet effective, with the pedestrian’s green-tinted shadow cast sharply against the shutter, adding an almost theatrical element.

The composition relies heavily on negative space — the expanse of blank wall heightens the sense of isolation between the two figures and allows the eye to rest before moving between them. The cyclist’s position towards the right edge introduces just enough tension, a suggestion of fleeting presence as he is about to leave the scene. The choice to keep both in the frame but apart reinforces the lack of interaction, mirroring the title’s statement.

Technically, the exposure is well judged for the fading daylight, retaining enough detail in both highlights and shadows to prevent the image from feeling flat. The shutter speed appears just on the cusp of freezing motion; the cyclist’s slight blur underlines his movement without breaking the clarity of the overall shot. Colour balance leans towards a cool tone, complementing the urban setting and subtly underlining the disconnection in the scene.

This is a photograph that benefits from its restraint — no dramatic gestures, no staged drama, just a precise observation of two lives intersecting in space but not in attention.