The photograph “A Strange Situation” was created by Clarence John Laughlin in 1938. It presents a somewhat eerie and dilapidated scene. The focus of the composition is an old building with a damaged facade. On the left, there is a door with a transom window above it, labeled “WHOLESALE LIQUOR.” The door appears worn, and the paint on the building is peeling. To the right of the door, there’s a closed shuttered window. On the ground, by the door, we see a single barrel and an overturned crate with the word “SIMCO” visible. The area is in partial shadow, adding to the sense of abandonment and decay. Shadows and light contrast starkly in this scene, contributing to its strange and mysterious atmosphere.
