Railroad station, Selma, Alabama Possibly 1973 - 1974

William Christenberry made this small photograph of the Railroad station, Selma, Alabama, and it’s like he’s gently nudging us to reconsider our everyday surroundings, one snapshot at a time. Look at that red! It’s not just red; it's a specific, almost sunburned shade of red, the kind that feels like a memory. He’s using color to evoke a feeling and to make this building stand out as a place full of stories. The building itself, with its quaint architectural details, is captured head-on, almost like a portrait. The composition is simple, yet it draws you in. There’s a realness to the image, like a quick glance remembered and then framed. Christenberry's choice to focus on the architecture of the South, especially vernacular buildings, reminds me of the Bechers' photographs of industrial structures. But where the Bechers are all cool detachment, Christenberry is warm, human, and inviting. It’s a testament to the power of seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary, and letting the process guide the way.