This photo portrays Catherine Opie’s long-time friend Pig Pen, who coolly gazes at the viewer with a casual honesty in their pose – legs crossed, probing expression, and expressive Jack-o‘-lantern tattoos on both knees. While some degree of performance often accompanies depictions of the transgender community, in Opie’s photograph, performance seems worlds away. She captures more than her friend’s outward appearance; she also presents a window into the complexity of this person – something a camera is prone to flatten.