Joel Meyerowitz’s “New York City, 1978,” from the Empire State series, is a quiet marvel of atmosphere and composition. Bathed in the golden light of late afternoon, the photograph captures a quintessential New York street corner in Manhattan.

The Empire State Building rises in the background, its sharp spire pointing skyward, framed by modern glass towers and older brick facades—a meeting point of eras and architecture.

In the foreground, a woman in a vintage green dress and striped socks stands in front of a produce store, its windows stacked with bananas and a menu board listing deli specials.

The orange trim of the building catches the low sunlight, casting warm reflections and long shadows along the sidewalk. Above her, a bright red and yellow mural with a radiating sun motif provides a playful counterpoint to the muted city beyond.

Meyerowitz’s lens transforms the routine into poetry, inviting viewers to notice the interplay of color, light, and texture. The city feels both monumental and intimate: the Empire State’s assertiveness softened by the gentle scene of daily life unfolding below. There’s a stillness in the image, a pause amid the city’s pulse, capturing an ordinary moment rendered extraordinary by attention and care.

This photograph is a love letter to New York’s capacity for everyday beauty and surprise—a tribute to the richness that lingers in a sidelong glance, a shaft of light, the turn of a corner.