Coy and Friend Possibly 1987

Shelby Lee Adams made this black and white photograph, *Coy and Friend*, without stating the year of its creation. What might it have been like to be Adams, making this work? Who are these people and where are they? Did they choose to pose like this, or did he direct them? And that title, what does he mean by 'coy'? Is he being ironic? I can imagine Adams carefully positioning his subjects, coaxing them into poses that reveal something about their lives and the environment in which they live. The worn overalls of the seated figure, the simple striped shirt and pleated skirt, the weathered porch, all these details contribute to the story. I'm curious about the story Adams wanted to tell here.