Coffee Shop Jamming Photo

Photographer’s Note

On Saturday morning as the San Anselmo Art and Design Festival began a local coffee shop had three guitar players and a drummer entertaining patrons. As you can see in the background of this photo there was quite a crowd awaiting service at the counter on the right. All the while these musicians did what they enjoy most, jamming.

I certainly enjoyed the music, first as I stood on the sidewalk outside the open windows lining the front of the shop facing the street and then later when I entered to explore other angles for shooting. The musicians were certainly aware of what I was doing, but they were so lost in their music they paid me no attention. These four musicians were remarkably good and it required some will power to return to the street to continue my rambles. Enjoy the scene.

jhm, plimrn, peter1892 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

RGatward (19737) 2006-07-04 3:27

Very busy shot, which probably suits the mood of the scene, I think the OoF muscian in the foreground works well.

mzmehr (917) 2006-07-04 3:27

Hi Curtis!
This is an profecional photo from people, I like your zooming on the man in centre and the man who is sitting behind him he is realy enjoy that music.
I wish I was there too.
Thanks for sharing.

Mohammad

Rinie_Hoff (9332) 2006-07-04 3:43

Hi Curtis, this reminds me so much of the scenes I have seen so often in Irish pubs, people just having fun and playing together (every one there knows all the Irish folk music by heart), and a lot of other people listening and enjoying as well. It is nice how the ?neck? of both guitars on either side of the scene point at the guy in focus, with the serious expression on his face.
Those two little feet on the right are funny..

jhm (82185) 2006-07-04 12:39

Hi Curtis,

You focus on the musician in middle gives a very lovely composition, I think this have to very pleasant are with a small orchestra in the pub, his there also people for dances Curtis?
Excellent real colours too!

Best regards,
John

plimrn (19596) 2006-07-04 17:36

Hi Curtis,
I do like the the way you've framed the photo; it gives a real sense of being in the coffee house. I like the intense concetration you've captured on the guitarist's face. It's rewarding photography because musician are way too involved with their music to pose. It's also a real challenge because the backgounds are busy and lighting poor; you've managed the ambient lighting well. You also have been able to largely isolate the guitarist with your DOF, while still giving a sense of the coffee house. My husband enjoys photographing local musicians. Since he enjoys listening to music, he finds photography is a good way to develop a better connection to the music scene.
Regards, Pat

peter1892 (3201) 2006-07-05 12:32

Hi Curtis - great POV for this one, it makes me feel like I'm right in the thick of the (musical) action.

I like the way we can make out the audience who appear to be concentrating on the band & not the photographer! Nice use of the lighting situation within the cafe, prime lenses are great :)