For nearly a decade, Evanston photographer Melissa Ann Pinney, 62, has taken candid pictures of people and things in a variety of settings. But it wasn’t until 2013 that she noticed a theme: pairs—represented by couples, strangers, and even inanimate objects. Pinney’s friend, author Ann Patchett, noticed it, too. So they put together the book Two (Harper Design, $30, April 14), a striking collection of Pinney’s photos with essays by a number of notable writers, including Susan Orlean, Barbara Kingsolver, and Elizabeth Gilbert. Pinney shares the stories behind these four images.
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1 / 4
Sarasota, Florida, 2008
“It’s interesting the way the men echo each other: They’re almost the same height, their pants are at the same spot on their torsos, but one has a light straw hat, the other has a dark hat.”
Photo: Courtesy of Melissa Ann Pinney -
2 / 4
Evanston, Illinois, 2007
“This was taken at the Montessori school across the street from my house. I love that you can see part of his real face underneath the mask head, which looks female even though he’s a little boy. I love that duality.”
Photo: Courtesy of Melissa Ann Pinney -
3 / 4
Orlando, Florida, 2013
“This was at the nationals volleyball tournament. Girls who had injuries would get taped with these huge ice bags. I love the plastic against the ice and the way the girls are similar but still with distinct differences.”
Photo: Courtesy of Melissa Ann Pinney -
4 / 4
Maui, Hawaii, 2011
“This woman was so fabulous in her pinup getup. She dresses like a 1940s film star even though this is Maui. I like how her daughter is connected to her, both because they look alike and the leopard-print tops.”
Photo: Courtesy of Melissa Ann Pinney