White House around the Corner from Joanne’s House, West Oakland, California c. 1963 - 1971

Joanne Leonard made this black and white photograph called 'White House around the Corner from Joanne’s House, West Oakland, California', and I think it is just amazing. You know, photography can be painting too, in its own way! I love the layering of information and how the figures interact with the architecture. It's like, what are they thinking? Is that woman waiting, or is she watching? I can imagine Joanne walking around her neighborhood, seeing the light and composition, waiting for the right moment to capture life as it is. There's a raw, documentary feel, but it's also super personal, right? Maybe it reminds me of the work of other photographers from that time, but it has this unique touch, a certain way of seeing that is all Joanne. It is an embodied expression, like a painter making marks on a canvas, allowing for different views over time.