Canon S100. RAW capture processed in Lightroom 4. Provence, March 2012

There is one café in my village in Provence, a place to read the local newspaper, have a go at a bizarre form of pinball (no flippers), drink a coffee and above all – if you know how – play rounds of Contrée, a card game which makes contact Bridge look like Snap.

Classic shot. yellodog · 2012-03-06: 15:22

tres serieux et attentifs ces joueurs de cartes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! photodeclair · 2012-03-06: 15:48

Clearly NOT your local PMU! The character centre stage reminds me of Doberman ( guess you don't remember Phil Silvers). A time- honoured setting ... did they know you were photographing them? I think not by their concentration! marilynx · 2012-03-06: 15:48

Il me semble reconnaitre une personne, un "charmeur":-) ! Ta photo évoque un temps révolu, mais cette atmosphère, on la retrouve encore dans les petits villages de Provence, même sur une ile lointaine de mon coeur! Excellent travail! Le plaisir de la photographie revient! tikine3gogours · 2012-03-06: 16:14

Looks like an Italian scene too . dID THEY PLAY FOR MONEY ? is that a few coins I see on the table? Great capture of them concentrating on their next move. I would have liked to see the colour version too , or was that too distracting the man's sweater on the left looks bright was it? MoMac · 2012-03-06: 17:37

This goes into my favorites. The light on the guy far right, and the look on the gentleman's face almost center frame. sooch · 2012-03-06: 23:15

Good candid shot - not the kind of picture an outsider could take. These guys look like they are part of the furniture. davids · 2012-03-07: 11:57

when I was a little girl, I used to enjoy sitting amongst the elders, while they sipped their drinks, and I'd sit so quietly amongst them as I listened to their personal stories .... and this particular shot reminds me of my younger days as an amatuer spy...hahahhaha...love that it's in B&W, it gives it a much more dramatic look and feel :) KatysPassionata · 2012-03-07: 20:34

Love the drama in the shot Stefan...especially emphasized with the b&w. Very nicely done! :) Nukee · 2012-03-08: 00:15

Your choice to post this photo in black - white I think is very nice (though I would not judge with certainty because I did not see the colored one) The atmosphere that hangs in such local café, you have captured well in your photos here. Ryana · 2012-03-08: 07:06

Great candid photo. I like the processing - adds to the tough look. Could be a still from a late '70s/early '80s movie. ????? · 2012-03-08: 16:20

I love the 'fly on the wall' documentary feel here. Very effective in B&W. girafferacing · 2012-03-12: 09:56

Tagged: s100 provence