Untitled (crowded dance floor seen from above) 1965

This small photograph shows a crowded dance floor, and was taken by Robert Burian sometime around January 1965. The gelatin silver print is a classic example of mid-century photography. The process is straightforward: a lens focuses light onto chemically treated paper, developing a latent image into what you see here. But don’t be fooled by its simplicity. The creation of a photograph depends on technical skill and an artistic eye. This image shows a sea of dancers in mid-motion, captured from above at a formal event. Photography like this democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider audience. The ease of production obscures the labor involved, both in setting up the shot and the behind-the-scenes work of developing and printing. Yet, this image is a window into a specific time, place, and social scene, a reminder of the photograph’s capacity to freeze a moment in time.