San Francisco, Leavenworth Street 23 - 1995

This photograph, “San Francisco, Leavenworth Street”, was taken by John Harding. It captures a slice of city life, the composition is like a stage set, and the soft palette gives it a slightly faded, nostalgic feel. What strikes me is the everyday quality of the scene, it feels so unposed, yet somehow perfectly arranged. The reflections on the car bonnet add a layer of complexity, blurring the line between the viewer's space and the world within the photograph. My eye is drawn to the Hob Nob Lounge sign, its slightly wonky lettering suggesting a certain offbeat charm. I also love the pile of wood on the left side of the building, seemingly for decoration. Harding's work reminds me a little of that of Stephen Shore, in the way both artists find beauty in the mundane. It's like they're saying, look closer, there's something interesting to see here. Art doesn't always have to be about grand statements, sometimes it's about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.