There’s something about this image that’s incredibly satisfying to me. I suppose because it tells a story and I do like a good story.
You know where you are. It’s Pittsburgh and, specifically, you are at Lucy’s Handmade Shop which has been family owned since 2007. You know that the imagery of the sleek, stylized woman on the sign doesn’t jive with the cartoon hats and boho dresses they actually sell.
And that’s ok because you don’t go to Pittsburgh’s Strip looking for stylized. You go looking for sports team gear, cool hats, and random souvenirs to take home. You may also go for a delicious sandwich and cold beer or for pancakes at a diner with a chicken on the roof but you are not there for an evening gown.
There’s no arguing that you’re on the Strip. If you’ve been, it’s easy to recognize the slice of an interesting old building in the background and the way shop owners crowd the sidewalks so tight with their wares, it’s hard to walk more than single file in places.
I also like that we can date the photo with the security camera on the building. Otherwise, the image could have been made at almost anytime but the camera grounds us.
And, of course, I’m tickled by the richness of colors, textures and shapes to be found in all those dresses and hats. They provide a fun frame for an interesting guy who is rocking a yellow and brown ensemble like nobody’s business.
This is one of my favorite photos from my last Pittsburgh trip and one I’m glad I was ready and prepared to snap.
Isn’t street photography fun?
