Georgia O'Keeffe 1918

Alfred Stieglitz made this photo of Georgia O'Keeffe, his partner and muse, using gelatin silver print. It's all about subtle tones, with soft gradations and moody contrasts. You can sense Stieglitz feeling his way through light and shadow, embracing the alchemy of the darkroom. The texture of the photograph is smooth, but alive. Look at the weave of the sweater O’Keefe is wearing, and how it's softened by the camera's eye. The light dapples and dims, caressing her face, and notice how her dark eyes meet yours. There’s a quiet strength there, an intelligence that pulls you in. Then, those hands, holding flowers, they look a little like a painting, don’t they? Thinking about other image makers, I'm reminded of how Gerhard Richter used photography as a kind of readymade for his paintings. Ultimately, photography, like painting, is about how to see the world, framing and transforming it, one gesture at a time.