The Cliffs c. 20th century

Karl Struss took "The Cliffs," this black and white photograph, and you can just feel the push and pull of light and shadow defining the forms. Look at the way he plays with texture! The rough, craggy cliffs contrast with the smoother water and the clustered buildings below. It reminds me of the way we build up layers in a painting, adding different marks to create depth and interest. Notice that the buildings closest to the edge are clear, whereas those in the back are a little hazy? Struss makes use of a high vantage point and diagonal composition to create a sense of depth in the scene, drawing our eye into the distance. It is like the way that a painter might use perspective to create a sense of space and distance on a flat canvas. Struss shares some of the sensibilities of an artist like Alfred Stieglitz, both of whom were key figures in the development of photography as a fine art.