Untitled c. 1911

This photograph of a motorcar was made by Spooner & Wells, though the when of it is a mystery. It's a study in greyscale, each tone carefully calibrated, like a perfectly mixed batch of paint. You know, the kind where you step back and squint, adjusting until it hums just right? The surface has a delicate texture, doesn't it? It feels like the emulsion itself is part of the subject. Look at the rear wheel on the left. See how the spokes slightly blur, becoming almost ghostly? It's not just documenting a car, it's giving us a feeling of movement, even nostalgia. The photograph feels like a memory. It reminds me of some of those early industrial photographs of the Bechers, who photographed structures not only as record but also as sculpture, art object. This photo captures a similar spirit, transforming this car into something more than just a vehicle. It becomes a relic of a bygone era, full of unspoken stories.