anthony coleman and friends at barbès 4/13/05 Briggan Waits

I liked his expression and the fact that we're seeing him in a playing situation, yet he isn't playing. Looks more like studio session than a stage, perhaps, although there are no other elements to tell us. So for me, this is a bit of a nostalgia image based on my memories, but not necessarily what I'm seeing.

Compositionally, the line on the lower left does bother me a bit, especially since the rest of it is so clean.

That line is a bass. It does clutter things a little bit, it's true. On the other hand, I don't think I like the picture without it. That *is* a stage, btw, not a studio session. Lit like the inside of a dog, too.

I prefer to photograph musicians when they're playing, because that's when they're "on" and present in all their intensity. When I took this picture, this man was gathering up his energy, listening to the music (free group improvisation), and getting ready to jump in. It was an in between moment, where playing and not-playing meet. So I think you're on to something with your comment about that.