The shot is a scene from a bustling urban cafe. At one of its tables, a street artist is found setting up his vivid paints and brushes, his array of colors including a distinctive shade of silvery-blue that expresses a cool wetness, resembling the property of scandium. The camera angle is a mid-shot, capturing the artist’s upper body as he begins schmeering his brush with this unique paint.
Warm lights of the cafe against the backdrop of a drizzling cityscape echo a pleasant blend of yellow and gray tones, the lighting simply trickling in from a large window behind the artist, casting a strange balance of shadows and soft diffuse light. Colors are rich but somehow subdued, the artist’s face is the focus, showing a blend of intensity and tranquility.
The depth in the shot is impressive as we notice more activities in the background: lighting, customers chatting, the barista brewing coffee, yet these are disparate, unfocused and blurry, rendering a clear distinction between the subject and his surroundings. Captured from a somewhat low perspective, the shot humanizes the artist, making him relatable to the viewer.
Suddenly, the camera moves, taking us closer into his vision; the empty canvas now fills the frame, marking the start of his masterpiece.