There are two Chinatowns in San Francisco. One belongs to the locals, while the other charms the tourists. Both locals and tourists enjoy the cuisine -- restaurants range from this simple family-run place to establishments serving over 1,000 people at a time. This image speaks of the patrons who are not there – the restaurant seems deserted except for two employees working at a back table. The words help give this restaurant a specific location. The neon sign promotes a Chinese beer, but it also tells us exactly where this restaurant is located, and in doing so, suggests the nature of the restaurant as well.

I shot this image, with its multiple reflective layers, to express the confusion and complexity of the shopping experience. The focal points are the headless mannequins posed against the lighted panels, and the abstracted arm and flying hair of a customer studying a rack of clothing behind their legs. On the right side of the image a vertical band reflects still other shoppers. They appear inside the building, yet are actually outside in Union Square, adding a touch of chaotic context to the already busy scene. However, even more context is provided by the Macy’s logo on the bottom of the two windows. It tells us that we are looking into the window of one of the most famous department stores in the world.