A young woman stands on a bustling 1920s pier, dressed in a crisp, navy blue middy frock. She delicately handles a pair of briolette earrings, made of sea-green glass. Her eyes reflect a myriad of emotions as she appraises the jewelry. The shot is captured from the girl’s side, allowing a view of the lively port full of fishermen, sailors and vendors behind her.
The camera focuses on the detailed briolettes, making everything else go slightly blurred. A gleaming afternoon light washes over the scene, accentuating the green glow of the earrings. The bright hues of the earrings contrast with the softer colors of the girl’s ensemble and the muted blues, grays and whites of the crowded pier.
The frame is balanced between the girl on one side and a busy sea market on the other. Momentary camera movements focus on the girl’s expressions, the glistening briolettes in her fingers, and fleeting scenes of the bustling port. There is a perception of depth, not just in the physical space and distance but also in the girl’s subtle, flickering emotions. The shot ends with her looking up, the reflected sunlight off the seawater causing a sparkling effect on her intrigued face.