Breathe, a photo from Ile-de-France, North

Photographer's Note

Waiters of the Caf� de Flore smoking the last cigarette before the big rush.

The Caf� de Flore is located in the 6th arrondissement and at the corner of the Boulevard Saint-Germain and the rue Saint-Benoit. The Caf� is famous because of its clients in 30's like George Bataille, Robert Desnos, Raymond Queneau, Giacometti, Picasso, and in the 40's like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir.

The place is also well-known because of the literary prize "Le Prix de Flore".

SnapRJW has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

JFS (32459) 2011-04-07 4:38

Great vertical cut of this current scene.The light and the atmosphere is fascinating.

Thanks Fr馘駻ic!

BennyV (34748) 2011-04-07 8:22

Bonjour Frederic,

Great to see another post from you.

Funny how a breather here is a synonym for a smoker ;)

Yellow hue of artificial light adds a bit of nostalgia to the scene. I like the result.

Benny

SnapRJW (31631) 2011-04-07 8:25

Hello Frederic - Now this is a strong composition; the two waiters are so well positioned within the frame and are balanced out perfectly by the expanse of negative speace above them. The colours are superb, a shot full of atmospere. Nice to see you back, best regards Rosemary

papera (14372) 2011-04-07 13:54

well, yesterday it was marine, today it's you... it's a week of comebacks :)
I like to take pictures of waiters and cooks - especially in countries like France, Spain or Italy where they still wear their working "uniforms".
I wouldn't want to be a waiter - it's one hell of a job and no one ever says thanks. I can understand how these two gentlemen craved for their cigarette...
I am not a fan of yellow artificial light, I personally would have corrected the WB - but apart from this detail, I like the shot very much.
c.

Juzo (2151) 2011-04-08 6:48

Hi Fred,
Nice to see you, it's been a while here. The vertical frame is imposing and strong, the two men compliment the scene. There is kind of a simple elegance here.
Cheers
Justin

nobuikehonda (3848) 2011-04-16 12:30

Hello,

What strikes me the most is the overall tone on this photograph in mahogany color.
The conversation in between two waiters could almost be heard. In the Positively unusual color, I find a relaxed time well captured. A nice image.

Best regards,

Nobu.

Afterdark (14) 2011-04-19 2:54

The golden loom lays like a shadow of good commemoration on this picture. The time of existentialism and film noir is gone forever, however, I can hear G. Moustaki, singing "Nous voulion changer le cour de lｴhistoire". Best wishes, M.

christian_v (846) 2011-06-07 1:28

Bonjour Fr馘駻ic
Int駻essante cette situation, un peu hors du temps, comme une ancienne reproduction qui serait issue d置n appareil � plaques . Un charme d駸uet de la couleur.
Je note que vous semblez avoir fait votre r騅olution/騅olution dans cette d駑arche d弾xploration de preneur d段mage(s)
Je regrette que vous ayez supprim� vos photos d誕rt et d弾ssais al饌toires�.M麥e si je n帝tais pas toujours d誕ccord en temps que spectateur invisible, c帝tait quand m麥e une d駑arche int駻essante qui brisait les canons esth騁iques convenus�.
Ps/ � quand, quelque surprises avec votre 6x6. �. ????
Cordialement
Christian