Oh man did I have a hard time choosing which photo to enter, but I felt this photo spoke to me more than the others.
I envision these men meeting up at this coffee bar probably one to 3 times a week. The cappuccino strip in the port town of Fremantle is popular with the locals especially Italians. This is where the immigrants landed after months long trip on a ship. The exact same place my parents and grandparents sailed into. None of them seem to be drinking coffee, maybe they’re waiting for an order, or a meal who knows… maybe one of them owns the cafe, who knows, I was just enjoying the camaraderie within this small group of men who have probably known each other for many many years. Would love to meet up with them one day and present them with this photo.
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When I saw this picture it evoked the feeling of the song from the Sixties:
Those Were The Days Words and Music by Gene Raskin
Once upon a time there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
Think of all the great things we would do
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way
Then the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If by chance I'd see you in the tavern
We'd smile at one another and we'd say
Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days
Oh, yes, those were the days
Just tonight I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely person really me
Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days
Oh, yes, those were the days
Through the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same
Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
I was having Internet problems all week and it wasn’t able to load the pictures. And so when things finally loaded only had time for about 1/3-1/2 of naming. I went through quick and named ones that came to me. I love this one, but I put it aside until later because it seemed like it needed the perfect name. And I couldn’t think of one. It’s such a wonderful group and there’s such a story here. All I could keep thinking though, is the second guy from the left reminded me of Walter Matthau. It’s the nose and the smile. But the other guy doesn’t look like Jack Lemon. Huge congrats on the finish! Such a wonderful, feeling photo
Totally agree with the Walter Matthau resemblance!
Thanks for the nice comment.
this was definitely one of my absolute favs in the challenge Anita ..
the energy you have captured is just magical ..
thanks for the back story ..
and yes .. how wonderful to see them again and give them the photo .. what an amazing gift that would be .. xx
I was having Internet problems all week and it wasn’t able to load the pictures. And so when things finally loaded only had time for about 1/3-1/2 of naming. I went through quick and named ones that came to me. I love this one, but I put it aside until later because it seemed like it needed the perfect name. And I couldn’t think of one. It’s such a wonderful group and there’s such a story here. All I could keep thinking though, is the second guy from the left reminded me of Walter Matthau. It’s the nose and the smile. But the other guy doesn’t look like Jack Lemon. Huge congrats on the finish! Such a wonderful, feeling photo
Congratulations
You captured something beyond an image here, you captured a period piece of work. I might add that you captured it in a fun feel good way.
I love this image. Wonderful catch.
Wonderful candid presented, with, as usual, spot-on processing. Thanks for sharing the story in your notes. Would be fun to see if the coffee bar would hang a print of this? Imagine the surprise for the men in the photo (assuming they eventually were to see it).
Those were the days.
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