New York City c. 1960s

This photo, New York City, was captured by Garry Winogrand, and there’s no way to know the exact date, which feels appropriate. Winogrand's images always give me the impression of being in the moment, a rapid-fire capture of life as it unfolds. Look at the woman in the foreground, partially out of focus, anchoring the scene. Her outfit and expression tell a story, but what I find fascinating is how Winogrand uses depth of field to create a sense of layered narratives. He was a street photographer and the graininess and contrast he creates is a type of tonal process; he shows you exactly what it was like on the street, not a romanticized or polished version. The other women, lurking near the building, their postures and the textures of the surrounding architecture contribute to the overall feeling of urban tension. What a shot, it reminds me a little of Diane Arbus’s work, who also captured the strangeness of city life but it's also like film stills, a narrative paused, inviting endless interpretations.