Untitled (waterfront and docks, New Orleans) c. 1935

Curator: Oh, this photograph, "Untitled (waterfront and docks, New Orleans)," by C. Bennette Moore, captured a scene that just hums with energy. Editor: It's certainly arresting—almost spectral in its high contrast. It's as if we're peering into a memory. Curator: Exactly! The way the light falls, or rather, doesn't fall, gives it this uncanny feeling. The figures on the docks become almost ghostly. Editor: The composition guides the eye. The lines of the dock draw you in, meeting the buildings in the background, a city within a city almost. Curator: It really speaks to the transient nature of port life, doesn’t it? Everything is in flux, always moving. Editor: Definitely a striking image. The artist uses formal elements to convey a feeling of urban dynamism. Curator: I can almost hear the sounds of the city. Editor: The image leaves you in wonder.