Hermosa Beach #6 1978

"Hermosa Beach #6" (1978) by Tod Papageorge is a black and white photograph that captures the candid moment of a beauty pageant on the beach. The image features a group of women, one of whom is wearing a bikini and a number 59, while a man standing beside her holds a clipboard. The photograph is typical of Papageorge's work, which often explores the complexities of American culture and the ways in which people interact with their surroundings. The photographer's use of a candid style in this photograph makes it a valuable document of beach culture in the late 1970s. The photograph’s composition and framing are such that the viewer can almost feel the California sun and the sand under their feet.