This photograph was taken inside an Indian Diner in Los Angeles. The colorful, lively walls drew my attention, especially in contrast with the empty chairs. Also, the scene has a symmetry – chairs neatly aligned against the teal wall and the wooden floor, which, in conjunction with the silence, creates a strange mix of melancholy and calmness. This tension between vibrancy and stillness often evokes reflection – like joy that has been paused.

The photo is deeply human without showing a person. The chairs suggest people who were there or will be there, and that imagined presence makes it emotional. No one is in the picture, but everything points to people. It is one of those pictures that is whispered through emptiness and balance.

What are the TWO most impactful features that make your image a good photograph? Don’t be shy!

Silence and symmetry.

If you could make this photo again, what would be the ONE thing you would like to do better or differently?

Go a little wider and cover more of the wall.

Ash Page shared this photograph with the FRAMES Facebook Group.

Photographer

Ash Page, USA

Equipment and settings

Hasselblad 503CW, Portra 400, Tripod