Overview

Ten minutes after a summer downpour, the terrace awning lit up like a lantern and the whole wet street leaned in. Yellows against blues — the oldest contrast in the book, and still the most generous.

Empty tables, two occupied chairs, reflections doing overtime on the cobbles. It is a painting that happens to be a photograph, and the studio makes no apology for that.

The making

Handheld under the opposite awning, waiting for the moment the staff lit the terrace lamps. The wet cobbles doubled the exposure's money — every highlight arrives twice.

Rain is the cheapest lighting assistant a photographer will ever hire.