Cereus Giganteus, Arizona 1871

Editor: This is Timothy O'Sullivan's photograph, "Cereus Giganteus, Arizona." The cacti are really striking. What compositional elements stand out to you? Curator: Note the photograph's tonal range, from the stark white sky to the deep shadows cast by the desert scrub. The verticality of the cacti against the horizon creates a play between line and mass. Editor: I see that now. It's almost architectural in its starkness. Curator: Precisely. The structural qualities lend it a monumental feel, despite its modest size. The repetition and variation of form draw the eye upwards, inviting contemplation of space and volume. Editor: It’s amazing how much the composition shapes the meaning. Curator: Indeed. The formal elements construct the viewer's experience.