As his una caña (small beer) was served, Olivier Lei put his feet up on a nearby bar stool. The French photographer, now Barcelona-based, had spent a few hours exploring the city with his phone, alert for potential shots. He’d usually do so in white trainers, or Vans; as a full-time freelance photographer, he was often on his feet. On this occasion, however, he was wearing his brand-new black loafers.
“I got them on sale; I think they were about $20,” he says. “I didn’t want to spend too much money because I didn’t know if this style would suit me.”
Lei had stopped at this bar to scout the location for another picture he had in mind. It had been a fairly unmemorable day but, as Lei notes, “sometimes those quiet days are the ones when you notice things more … I’ll keep the name of this place secret, but if you know the city, you’ll know it, as it’s quite famous. The location looks so great that interesting photos come naturally. You just have to wait.”
As he reached for his beer, Lei noticed the simple composition in front of him, and the colours. “The matching red of my socks and the chairs is very eye-catching, and the green adds a beautiful, soft contrast. Rotating it made it feel more intriguing, forcing the viewer to pause to understand the unique angle,” he says.
Lei says he wears the loafers most days now. “I’m an EU size 42 if anybody wants to offer me another pair!”