In honor of International Women’s Day, on behalf of Monarch Photography, we wanted to highlight Vivian Maier—a photographer known for her striking, high-contrast interpretations of daily life in the city. Through her usage of reflections, occasional pops of color, and simple composition, she captured New York’s essence and remains one of America’s top photographers. For more information on her life, visit “Featured Photographer: Vivian Maier.”
This photo was taken through the window of a closed barbershop/boutique and was shot to be a self-portrait with the camera in frame, akin to many of Maier’s portraits. I decided to shoot the photo a few feet away from the glass to create a “double reflection” effect. Since the window and the mirror both offer reflections, you can see the glass’ reflection of my hands holding the camera just below the mirror.