Photographer - William Klein Candy Store, Amsterdam Avenue New York (1954-55)
This photo stood out to me because of the story, composition, and the contrast with shadows and light. It looks like the photo includes natural light coming from an opposite window or open shade. The shadows on skin and clothing remind me of blinds or some kind of window covering. The photo is busy but appealing to the eye as there are not only different shadows but heavily contrasted shapes and patterns on the wall giving the photo a wavy, optical illusion. It also has an interesting negative grain reminiscent of the time. The photo includes repetition with the black and white tiles and balance with the position of the man and the boy. I like the highlights on the boy’s face and the man’s shirt and hand that add to the story. It makes the viewer wonder what the man is trying to protect under his hand. Is that a weapon? Is the boy scared or is this completely normal to him?
It looks like the photographer was kneeling when taking the photo so the focus is directly on the boy. I find there are many storytelling bits to this photo including how people are positioned (privileged white man standing over crouching black boy). The photo was taken during the civil rights movement as 1954 was when segregation was made illegal in public schools. Even though these changes were happening in America, there was extreme racism even in northern cities like New York. I think this photo does an amazing job of representing this period in time. It is a historical reminder of who we were as society and…. 60+ years later, how we still (dishearteningly) battle so much racism and hatred.