The Red Ceiling (Greenwood, Mississippi) 1973

This photograph of a red ceiling in Greenwood, Mississippi, was made by William Eggleston, and look at that colour! Eggleston's colour is never, ever apologetic, it just barges right in. The red here is so rich, it practically vibrates. It's not just a flat surface; it feels like it has depth, like you could fall into it. The way the light bulb hangs, vulnerable and exposed, adds to the feeling of intimacy, as if we're intruding on a private moment. Look at how the white electrical wire is casually slung across the ceiling. It’s this little detail which brings a sense of reality to the scene, this could be anywhere, everywhere, and is all the more affecting for it. Eggleston is often compared to photographers like Stephen Shore, who have a similar eye for the mundane, but there is something about Eggleston's colour that feels more intuitive, more personal. He shows us that even the most ordinary spaces can be full of emotion, if you just take the time to look.