“Enjoying the View”

Geneva Bay from Library Park in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

September 12, 2024

What better way to spend an autumn afternoon than to bask in the sunshine and watch the comings and goings on Geneva Bay in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin?

That is what these two people did on October 16, 1994, on a bench in Library Park. They viewed assorted activities, such as the two sailboats cruising the lake. Why did one of them have a dinghy in tow?

I like the scene because of its universal appeal urging us to take the time to sit and relax. With the perspective of 30 years ago when screens of all sizes did not dominate persons’ lives, the two people are gazing outward instead of downward on their cell phones. Ah, those were the days of undivided attention!

Besides the oodles of sparkles on the water, two other details of this photograph delight me. The bench, for one. That type was replaced years ago at the Lake Geneva lakefront. The bench, which was all metal, certainly had style: Look at those lines!

Due to the hilly ground which slopes to the shoreline, the bench is at a pronounced angle. The couple could have moved the bench to the grass above the sidewalk and a level surface but decided to sit anyway.

The other detail is the couple’s legs. Without realizing, both persons kept their left legs on the ground. The foreshortened distance between the bench and the lake makes the couple’s feet appear to be immersed in the water.

The angled bench and the synchronized legs add interesting features to a photo that has inherent strong appeal even without them due to the subject matter. I did not notice the bench and the positioning of the legs when I made the photo. I was more impressed by the overall scene.

When I made a print and noticed the bench and legs, I had to smile.