The El Prat’s Lounge

Airport lounges often exist in a strange, liminal space — neither entirely connected to the bustle of the terminal nor completely detached from it. This photograph captures that in-between feeling with an almost still-life precision. The beige armchairs, glass coffee table, and neatly placed newspaper (“La Vanguardia”) suggest a space curated for calm, yet one can sense the transient nature of those who pass through.

The composition is deliberate and symmetrical, the sofa centred with the vase of artificial flowers acting as the visual anchor. The choice to place the glass table in the foreground introduces depth and framing, its reflections adding subtle complexity without pulling attention from the central subject. The out-of-focus background — with its mixture of gold tones, muted beiges, and the occasional burst of colour from a distant pink armchair — offers a sense of place without overloading the frame.

Technically, the exposure is well judged. The warm artificial lighting is balanced so that the colours feel inviting rather than overly yellow, while the white balance preserves the neutrality of the newspaper and plates. Detail is sharp throughout, from the texture of the upholstery to the print on the paper, yet there’s enough softness in the distant background to guide the viewer’s focus forward.

As a travel photographer, I’m drawn to the subtle narrative embedded here: a biscuit untouched, a coffee cup empty, a headline waiting to be read. It is a moment suspended between flights, where time slows briefly before the next departure — a quiet pause in the perpetual motion of travel.