Clatsop County, Oregon 1999 - 2002

Robert Adams made this black and white photograph, *Clatsop County, Oregon,* capturing a desolate scene. It speaks to the environmental and social transformations occurring in the American West. Here, the visual codes are stark. The composition leads our eye along a dirt road, flanked by the debris of clear-cut logging, toward distant mountains. Made in the late 20th century, this work reflects a growing awareness of ecological damage caused by industrial practices. The image challenges the romanticized vision of the West, instead presenting a landscape scarred by economic exploitation. Adams' choice to work in photography underscores the role of the medium in documenting and critiquing these changes. Understanding this image involves researching the history of logging in Oregon, the legal and economic structures that incentivized deforestation, and the rise of environmental activism. These resources help us understand the power dynamics at play, and the role of art in challenging conventional narratives about progress and development.