Crenshaw, Mississippi 1970

This photograph, Crenshaw, Mississippi, by William Eggleston, captures a street scene with a particular kind of light. It's a light that feels almost painted, not quite flat, but softly diffused. Look at how the muted palette gives a coherence to the scene, the taupe tones and washed-out reds almost bleed into one another, everything seems to have been gently toned or faded. This isn't about sharp focus or contrast; it's about a feeling, an atmosphere. There’s a beautiful tension in the way the stark lines of the buildings sit alongside the curves of the car. The lettering of “Ritz” above the awning becomes like a graphic element in a painting, while the faded facade of the building is akin to the worn surface of a canvas. You could easily imagine an artist like Edward Hopper being inspired by the poetry of the everyday in Eggleston's work. Ultimately, this photograph resists simple readings, inviting you to linger, to feel, and to find your own meaning in the ordinary.