Girl Sitting Alone in the 'Sea Grill,' a Bar and Restaurant, Waiting for a Pick-up, Washington, D.C. Possibly 1943 - 1989

This photograph was taken by Esther Bubley, who was born in 1921. What I like about black and white photographs is how light and shadow do all the work. The light in this image is so directional, pouring in and hitting the woman’s face, arm, and shoulders. It's like she’s sitting in a stage set. You can imagine Bubley finding the right spot, waiting for the right person to come along and sit, just so. It’s a little like waiting for the paint to dry, or waiting for an idea to come. It’s not just the decisive moment that Cartier-Bresson talked about, but the patient moment. You wonder what she was thinking, as she sat there with her arms crossed, smoking. Was she aware of being watched and photographed? In a way, we’re all in this picture. We’ve all waited like this, in public, feeling like we’re alone on a stage. That’s how images work; they invite us to play a role.