Andrea, Catalina Beach © Baldomero Fernandez

This photograph by Baldomero Fernandez has been a favorite of mine for a few years now. It, along with much of Baldomero’s work, has been an inspiration and a guidepost for my own work.

There’s a sense of tension and mystery in this photo. The telephone appears to play a significant role in the story. However, the woman’s gaze is not on the phone itself but on something beyond the camera’s view.

Is someone coming towards or looking back at her? Is she staring off into space, lost in a thought, thinking whether she should call or not? Is the phone ringing, the woman choosing to look away and ignore it?

This photograph makes me want to linger for a while. It makes me want to know more about it. And, most importantly, it makes me want to create photographs that have a similar impact.