I’m a coffee addict. I could drink coffee the whole day. I can drink a coffee before going to bed and still sleep like a baby. When I’m all stressed out (from the job that pays the bills), I drink a coffee, take a deep breath and carry on. Coffee also gets my creative juices flowing. That said, I’ve spent the last (slightly extended) weekend in Italy. And there is no other country (I’m aware of) that provides for great tasting espresso.
The above photo I took in Genoas old town from outside a coffee bar with my Olympus OM-D E-M1 and the mZuiko 12-100mm F/4 – image specs 1/60 sec @ f/4 and ISO 1600, 100mm focal length.
There are a couple of things I like about the photo, the overall story, the nice bokeh of the 12-100, the juxtaposition of the big, slightly tilted head of the coffee drinker in the foreground and the small slightly tilted head of the barista in the blurred background. What I don’t like is the clutter in front of the head of the main subject. Although blurred, it still distracts. But in that situation there was no chance for a composition with a clean background. Street photography is full of trade offs.
Wish you a great Tuesday!
Marcus
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Hello Marcus,
its time to wright you…thats the motto of my life and the picture is great…go on with a strong black coffee 🙂
Best , Jürgen
Thanks, Jürgen, so much appreciate your visit and your comment! Glad we share the right motto 🙂 ! Schönes Wochenende! Marcus
This is a great capture Marcus! I hope that you had a wonderful time in Italy. Interestingly, one of the things that I find intriguing about the photo is the “burly” man with the “dainty” cup. I do realize that this is how espresso is served in most places. It’s just not something I’m used to seeing in the area that I live. I was mesmerized by it when we traveled to Paris and everyone at the cafe would have their little cup of espresso. I do love coffee, but I have to limit my caffeine to the morning!
You shouldn’t have a problem limiting your caffeine in Italy with those tiny cups with just a finger of espresso, albeit a very strong one 🙂 Need to get a real Italian bar coffee machine for my house one day.
This so makes me want coffee now. Its my favourite drink. And I like this image as it is. It’s as you found it, and real.
Just sat down for a coffee and blueberry scone when I stumbled over your post.
Nice piece. I honestly did not mind the clutter as it helps anchor the setting. Love coffee and photography, what more could you ask for! Thanks for the post!
Your photos are great and your writing is just as great, if not better!
I love coffee too! Have your ever tried cold pressed nitro brewed? It’s the best!
I agree the diagonal between the two heads makes for a good composition. Its amazing you could capture just the perfect geometry.
I like the perspective or angle in this picture.
Thanks, Are, appreciate your feedback 🙂 ! Marcus
🙂
Great photography, I’m also a coffee lover Marcus but prefer cappuccinos to strong espressos! Hope you are having a good week. Marion
Thanks, Marion, and my week is going great. You know, with the cappuccino it is like with the Bavarian white sausages, you shouldn’t have them after 12pm. Italians only drink them in the morning (it is their breakfast – and together with a croissant (or brioche) all of it).
Oddly, my parents can both drink coffee and sleep like a baby, but I get wired and cannot drink it after noontime or I cannot sleep. But I really do love coffee.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, much appreciated! Marcus
I do like the image as it is very story telling, yet I agree with you with the clutter in the foreground, it could be cropped above the guys jacket pocked. Just a thought. Happy coffee drinking to you.
Thanks, Cornelia, also for your cropping suggestion, will try 🙂
I have to grit my teeth and tell my husband, “It is not EXPRESSO!!”
🙂 lol…..
Thanks! It was a great Tuesday!
I like the photo, so much going on in it. The man’s coffee is mighty small… 😎
Thanks, John, a real Italian espresso is always tiny…but super strong 😉
I see, that cup looks like a tiny Dixie Cup from the bathroom. 😆😮🤭
Love the photo, I drink coffee the same as you, never keeps me awake…..but I only drink black Americano which the Italians have yet to master, until I kept asking for a jug of hot water to go with my coffee. It’s just really expresso coffee watered down 🙂 Lynne
I always drink black Americano when in the states, but yes, the Italians don’t know the concept 😉 Don’t need to actually, because their coffee is simply great (which in the US is not always the case)…
Very true about coffee in the US Marcus, but once I added the water the coffee was fine, I only drink black coffee nothing else, I dislike milk, so sometimes coffee can be very strong, especially here in the UK…..ha ha we have a lot to learn on the coffee front. We buy lots of different coffee beans and grind our own, which means we can at least have some nice coffee at home 🙂 Lynne
Looks like we not only share our passion for travel and photography, but also for great black coffee 😀
Ha ha 🙂 it looks like it 🙂
I love coffee too! That’s an awesome photo!
Thanks, Cassia 🙂