Starlight Roof at the Waldorf, New York City 1950

This photograph by Ruth Orkin, shows the Starlight Roof at the Waldorf in New York City. What I love about this image is the vantage point. It gives a bird's eye view of the hustle and bustle outside of the Waldorf. I can imagine Orkin perched high above, maybe in a room or on a balcony, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to capture this scene. What was she thinking as she framed this shot? Did she anticipate the composition, with the car pulling up, the doorman, and the passersby creating a dynamic interplay of forms? The way she positioned the camera, it makes you think about the geometry of human activity. It's easy to see Orkin's curiosity about the rhythm of daily life in the city. There's a quiet observation, a stillness amid the chaos, almost like she's painting with light and shadow to capture a fleeting moment in time. Artists often share a similar need to pause, to examine the world from different angles, and to find beauty in the everyday.