Street Scene, San Francisco c. 1969

Gordon Parks made this photograph, titled "Street Scene, San Francisco," on who knows what day, but I'm guessing it was a day like today, with a particular light. I love the interplay of reality and artifice in the image. It's as if Parks, with his camera, is painting with light, shadows, and framing, creating a composition that feels both staged and spontaneous. He’s not just capturing a scene, but constructing it, layering elements to create a sense of depth and mystery. It's like he's setting up a stage, inviting us to become both viewers and participants. I see a conversation happening, not just within the frame but between the artist and the world. The street becomes a canvas, and the city a character in his visual narrative. It reminds me that art isn't just about representing reality, but about transforming it, filtering it through the lens of personal experience and imagination. And that's something every artist can relate to, right?