Del Monte Forest 1956

Wynn Bullock made this gelatin silver print of Del Monte Forest sometime in the mid-twentieth century. It’s a misty scene, almost like a memory fading at the edges. Look at how the light filters through those trees; it’s not just a visual thing, you can practically feel the dampness in the air. The details of the bark, the almost obsessive rendering of the undergrowth, feel very present against the disappearing background. It’s about being lost and found at the same time. There’s something about the almost ghostly quality of the trees in the background that reminds me of some of Caspar David Friedrich's landscapes, that same romantic moodiness and quiet drama. Ultimately, Bullock’s photograph isn’t just about capturing a place, it's about suggesting a feeling, a mood. The ambiguity and multiple interpretations of that are what make it stick with you.