Midnight, Hollywood Boulevard 1989

Jim Goldberg made this gelatin silver print, Midnight, Hollywood Boulevard, sometime in his long career as a documentary photographer. I feel like I’m transported into the smoky, neon-lit interior, right? The high contrast of the print gives it that timeless, gritty feel. I can almost smell the stale beer and anticipation. Look at the young woman, bathed in the glow of the arcade game, totally absorbed in the thrill of the game. Goldberg captures her focus with a real tenderness; she could be anyone, anywhere, lost in a world of virtual competition. I can almost feel the joystick in my own hand, the weight and the quickfire movements. Thinking of the work of people like Garry Winogrand, Goldberg also hones in on these in-between moments to see the poetry in everyday life. The image feels kind of cinematic, like something from a movie, and makes me wonder what happens next. It makes me want to get out and play more.