Open Pit Copper Mine at Pima, Arizona Possibly 1985 - 1990

Editor: This photograph, "Open Pit Copper Mine at Pima, Arizona," by David Maisel, is quite striking in its starkness. The geometric patterns carved into the earth are almost mesmerizing, but also a bit unsettling. What kind of stories do you think this image is telling? Curator: The image powerfully evokes layers of meaning. The open pit, photographed from above, becomes an almost abstract symbol of human intervention, echoing ancient earthworks and the layered narratives of palimpsests. What emotions does this industrial scar elicit within you? Editor: I see both a brutal transformation of nature and a strange, unintended beauty. It makes me question the cost of progress. Curator: Indeed. The photograph acts as a stark reminder of the price we pay for resources, embedding that very human story into the landscape itself. It's about memory etched in earth. Editor: I never thought about it that way, it's fascinating how much history can be captured in a single image.