Lucy’s Diner Interior

Lucy’s Diner Interior

Stephen Bybee
Columbia, MO
May, 2009

Lucy’s Diner, on the corner of Sixth and Broadway, was an elusive structure to photograph at night.  For some reason I have very few photos of the exterior, but I do have a photo of the interior.  This image is an example of the well-known saying, less is more.  Everything in this photograph has been reduced to either black or white, with virtually no midtones, and the brick wall behind the table is only faintly illuminated.  The imagery suggests a classic existential trope with a more upbeat Kerouacean overlay.  There could be a trace of William Carlos Williams lurking in here as well…This photo was taken in 2009 on a tripod-mounted Mamiya 645, using only available light.  Lucy’s, which had once been Ron’s Country Boy, is now El Oso Mexican Grill.