Yvonne Cary Carter
July 2026 - Velvet Perch
Original
About the Image(s)
I captured Velvet Perch at Beverly Records, Chicago, on World Record Day 2026, April 18, 2026. In the celebration of vinyl music this image shows the stool shoppers use to peruse the stacks at Beverly Records. The store was filled with people reminiscing about all things music and going through stacks and crates of vinyl records with music spinning on records players. The store had very low light. To edit, I used photoshop camera raw basic adjusters. Then, masked the stool to bring out the velvet color.
Camera Fujifilm Camera X-Pro 3
Lens xF35mm F 1.4 R
Focal Length 35mm
Exposure 1/125 @ f 16
ISO 6400
14 comments posted
Yvonne,
I love this so much! I live the vibe. I want to know the story behind stool, who sat on it, what was their music taste. I want to sit on the stool and peruse the albums.
I also feel that this would be considered liminal photography, one of my new favorite genres Posted: 07/02/2026 21:57:09
I love this so much! I live the vibe. I want to know the story behind stool, who sat on it, what was their music taste. I want to sit on the stool and peruse the albums.
I also feel that this would be considered liminal photography, one of my new favorite genres Posted: 07/02/2026 21:57:09
Sylvia, Wow...I didn't realize this was liminal photography. I wish this stool could take us all back to a simpler time of just perusing albums. Thank you for your comments. Posted: 07/10/2026 14:19:37
Yvonne,
I agree with Sylvia about the vibe of this image. An interesting choice of subjects. The curve in the bookcase was distracting, so I tweaked it a little bit. I also put a touch more light on the stool to draw the viewer's eye. Posted: 07/03/2026 17:48:10
I agree with Sylvia about the vibe of this image. An interesting choice of subjects. The curve in the bookcase was distracting, so I tweaked it a little bit. I also put a touch more light on the stool to draw the viewer's eye. Posted: 07/03/2026 17:48:10
Bruce, I kinda like the grittiness of the photo with old leaning shelves bending from years of holding vinyl. I plan on giving the owners a printed copy so I'm sure I'll have more editing to do. Thank you for taking the time to edit Vinyl Perch. Posted: 07/10/2026 14:26:35
Sorry Yvonne... I assumed the bend in the shelves was a lens aberration. I didn't realize the shelves are actually bent. Posted: 07/10/2026 15:27:19
LOL ... Beverly Records is truly vintage! Posted: 07/10/2026 16:02:30
This picture immediately appealed to me, Yvonne. Your editing really captured the atmosphere of the shop perfectly.
I can picture that wonderful lilac velvet stool where people sit to browse the shelves for records.
The seemingly chaotic arrangement is simply irresistible, and I might even find a treasure or two there myself. (These records are also a part of my youth, and I was a huge Carlos Santana fan.) Even reading the labels on the shelves is a visual journey of discovery.
Since you've already enhanced the stool somewhat in Photoshop, I think it's your main subject. To further emphasize your intention, I used the "Free Transform" slider in Photoshop to maintain the aspect ratio but stretch the image slightly in both directions.
(Please excuse my amateurish description.) This gives the stool a bit more space and makes it stand out even more.
Perhaps you'll like my small changes.
Thank you for the interesting photo and the information about it.
Posted: 07/09/2026 14:47:40
I can picture that wonderful lilac velvet stool where people sit to browse the shelves for records.
The seemingly chaotic arrangement is simply irresistible, and I might even find a treasure or two there myself. (These records are also a part of my youth, and I was a huge Carlos Santana fan.) Even reading the labels on the shelves is a visual journey of discovery.
Since you've already enhanced the stool somewhat in Photoshop, I think it's your main subject. To further emphasize your intention, I used the "Free Transform" slider in Photoshop to maintain the aspect ratio but stretch the image slightly in both directions.
(Please excuse my amateurish description.) This gives the stool a bit more space and makes it stand out even more.
Perhaps you'll like my small changes.
Thank you for the interesting photo and the information about it.
Posted: 07/09/2026 14:47:40
Sabine, Carols Santana is legendary! Remember Black Magic Woman? Didn't know he made it all the way to Germany. I like the expanding edit to give the stool a little more elbow room. Thanks for the memories. Posted: 07/10/2026 14:34:03
My absolute favorite song is Samba Pa Ti. Many, many years ago, I even went to a concert with him in Hamburg. What an experience! Posted: 07/13/2026 13:31:22
The Hamburg concert lives on in your memory! I don't remember this the song. It's beautiful!! Posted: 07/13/2026 14:26:05
Hi Yvonne,
This is truly one of the best photos I've seen - I really enjoy the feel that you captured. I'm of an age where browsing in record stores was a favorite summertime activity. There was a distinct scent and vide to the whole experience flipping through LPs. I think you did a masterful job on this and have no suggested edits!
Doug Posted: 07/10/2026 13:48:44
This is truly one of the best photos I've seen - I really enjoy the feel that you captured. I'm of an age where browsing in record stores was a favorite summertime activity. There was a distinct scent and vide to the whole experience flipping through LPs. I think you did a masterful job on this and have no suggested edits!
Doug Posted: 07/10/2026 13:48:44
Douglas, There was nothing like browsing through records looking at the cover photographs and all the song information. Streaming doesn't give you the same vibe. Thank you for your comments. Posted: 07/10/2026 14:39:20
Yvonne, what a fun place to hang out! I could see myself spending hours and many dollars in a place like this. I spent quite a lot of time in record stores when I was younger. Too bad these kind of places are hard to find these days.
I like that you have highlighted the stool in this image. The background with the aged shelving and records really adds to the vibe, as others have said. I also think the noise in the image adds to that vintage vibe quite well. Nicely done! Posted: 07/10/2026 20:17:48
I like that you have highlighted the stool in this image. The background with the aged shelving and records really adds to the vibe, as others have said. I also think the noise in the image adds to that vintage vibe quite well. Nicely done! Posted: 07/10/2026 20:17:48
Well ... consensus is we're all reminiscing about the good ole days! I was right behind you running to the records store. Especially when a popular 45 hit the store.
The Fuji may have added to the vintage vibe too. Thank you for your comments. Posted: 07/11/2026 00:14:05
The Fuji may have added to the vintage vibe too. Thank you for your comments. Posted: 07/11/2026 00:14:05