The Upper Lake and Valley to the West of Mt. Baker, Ruwenzori c. 1906

Curator: Vittorio Sella's photograph, "The Upper Lake and Valley to the West of Mt. Baker, Ruwenzori," captures a stunning mountain landscape. It's a silver gelatin print, offering incredible detail. Editor: It’s breathtaking. The stark contrast between light and shadow creates a sense of drama and, honestly, a bit of foreboding. Look at how tiny that lake appears against the massive peaks. Curator: Sella was a pioneering mountain photographer. The Ruwenzori Mountains, on the border of Uganda and Congo, are known as the "Mountains of the Moon" in classical literature, a name that evokes mystery and the sublime. Editor: That title alone tells us a lot. The photograph becomes more than just a landscape. It speaks to colonial exploration, resource extraction, and the romanticized vision of "untouched" nature that obscures the labor and displacement of indigenous populations. Curator: The image embodies a visual record of an era defined by exploration, when photography was integral to documenting and claiming new territories. Editor: Indeed. It’s a reminder that even seemingly neutral landscapes are laden with complex historical and social meanings. An important reminder for all of us today.