Max Yavno

From the first second you look at this image, you know that it is an old photo.  The simplicity of the signs shows that this was taken long before any type of technological advancements were made. They used almost all type and very few images to advertise and they stuck mostly to a bold blocked letter type.  The simplistic style of the signs make the photograph very bold because the shades and the transition between shades are very defined and clean.  The angle at which the photo is taken is very interesting because it creates a very nice relationship between the three signs present in the photo.  The "arrow hotel" sign in the foreground grabs the attention of the viewer and the eye then follows back on a diagonal to the bottom right corner where the next two signs are.  Also, the black grate in the top of the frame succeeds in helping the eye follow back along that diagonal from the foremost sign to the farthest sign.  Another component of the photograph which I absolutely love is the prices of everything.  A bed at the Arrow Hotel at the time was only 25 cents which today, will hardly buy us a stick of gum.  Also, a large glass of beer was only 5 cents and today a large beer would be more like 5 dollars.  Images such as this one capture a moment in history and become even more interesting as time passes and the world changes.