Waiting To Board At Santa Margherita Ligure

Crowds have their own choreography. This moment, taken on the waterfront of Santa Margherita Ligure, is less about any single subject and more about the small, unspoken narratives that weave together in a public space. Nobody is looking at the same thing, yet they are all connected by the same purpose — waiting for the boat.

From a compositional standpoint, I deliberately let the frame fill with people, favouring density over isolation. The image works because of its layers: the foreground with its sharply focused details, the mid-ground of partially obscured figures, and the soft backdrop of the harbour and town. Each layer adds depth without distracting from the central grouping.

Technically, the exposure was straightforward, thanks to the diffused overcast light — no harsh shadows to fight against, but enough contrast to keep the subjects from looking flat. Shooting at a moderate aperture gave me just enough depth of field to keep the primary subjects crisp while gently softening the background. The Nikon’s sensor held the colour palette well; the coral-red dress and powder-blue polo shirt pop naturally against the more muted surroundings, drawing the eye without screaming for attention.

What interests me most here is the quiet contrast between old and new ways of passing time. The woman in blue, camera slung casually around her neck, seems to be listening and watching; the woman in red is absorbed in her phone. Around them, others are lost in their own micro-worlds — reading, talking, simply waiting.

It’s an image without drama, yet it holds a truth about travel and human behaviour: in the pauses between movement, we each find our own small rituals.