Yes, We…Can

I took this photo because it stopped me mid-step. A banal object — a crushed Coca-Cola can — pierced on a historic stone spike, suspended in defiance or perhaps pure indifference. The tension between the industrial red cylinder and the worn, centuries-old limestone was too stark to ignore.

The composition leaned heavily on perspective and focus. I shot wide open, letting the background melt into soft abstraction, just enough to hint at an ancient setting without overpowering the main subject. I tilted the frame slightly to echo the absurd balance of the can, breaking away from textbook horizontality to embrace the odd equilibrium of the scene.

Exposure was critical. I needed detail in the highlights of the can’s branding without blowing out the grey nuances of the stone. The light was flat, overcast, which helped — it gave me an even palette to work with, avoiding harsh shadows that would have distracted from the delicate absurdity.

This wasn’t staged. Someone left it like that — either as a lazy act or a quiet, accidental installation. In either case, it spoke louder than a curated piece could.