Gordon Parks

A man of remarkably diverse talents, Parks is perhaps best known for the photographs he made for Life magazine from 1948 to 1961. With subjects as varied as fashion, poverty, gang violence, and the civil rights movement, Park often conveyed an introspective view of the urban scene. In this image, shot in mid-town Manhattan while working for Life, Parks used soft focus and deep tonal contrast to create a tranquil moment that contrasts with the electric vibrancy of the cinema marquee.