No one who has a best girlfriend can doubt what’s going on in this picture, but you might be surprised at who took it: Iconic color photographer and artist (and local) William Eggleston. In Smithsonian magazine this month, another talented Memphian, Emily Yellin, tells the story behind the picture, complete with names, dates (1973!) and a velour bathrobe.

What I like most about the story, though, is that you can feel the power of these girls’ connection in the picture, and how focused they are on each other. They said they didn’t really notice Eggleston lighting the photo. There was something much more important going on: She was talking, her friend was listening.

It doesn’t get much better than that.