Long Island, New York 1978

John Gossage made this black and white photograph, "Long Island, New York," using gelatin silver. It’s got this raw, documentary feel, like he just stumbled upon this scene. The tonal range, you know, it’s not overly dramatic; it’s more about the subtle shifts, the way light catches on the bricks and the dusty ground. It's about bearing witness, in a way. Look at the way the stacked bricks in the foreground act like a visual anchor, and the way the stark geometry of the buildings contrasts with the organic chaos of the trees. The detail in the foliage and the rough textures of the construction site, it's all so tactile. It makes you feel like you’re right there, kicking up dust. It reminds me a little of Robert Adams' work, that same kind of quiet observation of the American landscape, finding beauty in the mundane and overlooked. It's like they're both saying, "Hey, look at this. This is real life, and it's worth paying attention to."