Photography: Olivia Pestova
Olivia Pestova
“I am a street and still life photographer and longtime New Yorker. I often narrate through series. To me, the unfolding is beautiful. My work is dedicated to my city, my uncle who was a photographer and my father who was an architect.
My images have been on view at 82Parris gallery, Saturdays NYC, Reformation, Vesuvio Bakery, Catbird, Fine & Raw chocolate and auctioned.”
Café Martin is a longtime cozy spot in Brooklyn, beloved by locals and welcoming to a passer by. It invites for a good cup of coffee, catch up with friends or quality time alone. I used to live a few blocks away and was a regular.
These series started unexpectedly on a rainy, beautiful and black and white kind of day. I had an errand to run in Brooklyn and took my camera with me. On the way back to Manhattan I walked by Café Martin. I sat down with a tea and was touched by warmth of the place and new owner, the chat between strangers and friends and the calming sound of the rain outside. A few days later I went back and then I went back again and again and again in the early hours and on rainy days. As I Iooked at the photos I took, they showed old Brooklyn charm retained by the cafe and its history. It inspired me and called me back for more.
What you’ll see in the early hours are locals coming in for a coffee to go or to stay and most importantly for a chat with a welcoming owner who knows her regulars by name.
My hope with this collection is to showcase the character and old Brooklyn charm of the cafe. To bring back the memories for those who have visited and introduce it to those who haven’t yet. It is a tribute to Café Martin.
