On the Cover Photo

The motif on the cover of the current issue of LFI was taken 35 years ago, during the legendary Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which takes place in New York City every year. Elliott Erwitt is known for his particular preference for photographing dogs and, over the years, he has produced whole books dedicated to the creatures: from the smallest Chihuahua to the largest Bulldog; from the elegant pure bred to the street mutt; as far as Erwitt is concerned, each dog has its own character. On the occasion captured here, it was an inflated specimen that floated by in front of the photographer's Leica. As was so often the case, Erwitt was enjoying a privileged position in an apartment on the Upper West Side, from which he was able to photograph the popular parade.

The stunning spectacle, put on by Macy's department store and following a route from Upper Manhattan to Midtown West, draws hundreds of thousands of tourists and New Yorkers every year – so it is especially fortunate when you can enjoy a good view from a window. While you may miss the procession of colourful floats, marching bands and dancers at street level, you may well find the enormous balloons of cartoon figures, which have traditionally been part of the final segment of the festive parade since 1927, passing by at eye level. And, of course, Snoopy, the world-renowned beagle from the Peanuts series, created by Charles M. Schulz around 1950, could hardly miss out on the fun.

Erwitt captured the moment when Snoopy's profile glided past – and it would seem that the girl at the window found the photographer at work even more exciting than the spectacle outside. Consequently, the picture revealed various levels in a single image: indoors and outdoors, quiet and action, proximity and distance. And the whole scene played out in front of the New York City skyline. It is all so typical of Erwitt, who has managed to produce hundreds of timeless classics with the same ease.