Jackson, Mississippi 1969

This photograph, taken by William Eggleston, captures a moment in Jackson, Mississippi. What strikes me is Eggleston’s use of color; it’s so vibrant, almost painterly, which reminds me that photography, like painting, is very much about how you choose to see. The floral patterns on the cushions and the woman’s dress seem to battle with each other, a riot of hues that somehow manage to not clash. Notice how the light falls on the woman’s face. There’s a kind of stillness, a quiet contemplation that draws you in. The details, like the cigarette in her hand, feel so deliberate, loaded with unspoken narratives. Eggleston is often compared to artists like Edward Hopper, who elevated the mundane to the iconic. What Eggleston does so well is finding beauty in the everyday, showing us that even in the most ordinary scenes, there's something extraordinary if you take the time to look.