Shreya - October 28

This wonderfully colour filled image by Chicago based photographer Brian Ulrich is from his series tittled Retail. The colours of this image appear to be overly saturated however considering the location the picture was shot in, they are actually quite realistic. The focus of the photograph is on a transgendered individual seated in the foreground. There is an immediate contrast between the familiar setting of a fast food chain restaurant and this intriguing overdressed character, which generates interesting tension within the photograph. Despite this tension the photograph appears to be balanced to a certain degree through certain parallel colours. The blue in the clothing that he/she is wearing is subtly reflected in the blue of the painting in the left. Also the red of his lips seem to be talking to the red of the soda dispenser and the male figure in the background. In this way the image seems to play with the idea of belonging. Despite the fact that main character of the photograph seems out of place, through colour there is harmony created between him and the environment.