Lake George 1922

This photograph, "Lake George", was made by Alfred Stieglitz with silver. It's a moody piece; the palette is muted, a study in greys. Look at how Stieglitz coaxes such drama out of the sky. The clouds aren’t just clouds; they're like thick brushstrokes, swirling with an energy that feels both turbulent and strangely serene. There's a tension in the way the light catches the edges of the clouds, almost like he’s sculpting them with shadows. The dark mass of trees below sits in contrast with the lightness of the sky. See how Stieglitz has captured the texture of the foliage. It's as if he's inviting us to contemplate the interconnectedness of earth and sky, and to question our place within it. The tonal qualities remind me of Gerhard Richter’s grey paintings. Both encourage us to see the world anew.