New Orleans c. 1936

Peter Sekaer made this photograph of New Orleans. Look at the facade of the buildings. It is a study in contrasts. The white building on the left and the dark building on the right. A game of light and shadow. I can imagine Sekaer walking through the streets of New Orleans. The sun beating down. The smell of the river. He pauses, sees the light hitting these buildings, and thinks yes. I can see the composition in his mind. He sets up his camera, adjusts the focus, and waits for the right moment. What I love about this photograph is the tension between the two buildings. They seem to be pushing against each other, creating a dynamic composition. It makes me think about the push and pull of city life, the way different communities and cultures rub against each other. I feel a connection to other photographers. I see Walker Evans and Berenice Abbott in this image. Artists are in ongoing conversation, inspiring one another’s creativity.