This photograph titled "Wilmington, North Carolina, 1950" was taken by renown 'snap photographer' - Elliott Erwitt. The title is self-explanatory as to where and when it was taken, however tells us nothing of its subject. Erwitt captured here a fleeting moment on the street, when a woman passing by a shop's window turned around to look back, as if knowing she was observed by someone behind the window, which was in fact a mannequin. The photograph focuses on the figure in the foreground, which looks humanoid in its pose, but without the woman in the background, who turns around just before disappering completely, the photograph would be meaningless.
The diffused light of a clouded day allowed the almost reflection-less capture of subject seen through glass window, and also more balanced exposure, which would be hard to achieve on a sunny, blue-sky day ( when shadows become near- black and sky is very bright). Furthermore the simplicity is worth noting - I wonder why there is no other people on that street? Could it be that Erwitt waited for that 'decisive moment' when the right person looked back at exactly the right time? And there he was then- ready to release the shutter of his usual Leica - compact and quiet tool of the trade.
Seemingly a snapshot taken on impulse, it is in my opinion a well- thought out, prepared for photograph, illustrating Erwitt's pursue of ironic, momentary theatre of life.
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