["Gould's swamp, looking south", "Sinking test pit, Gould's swamp"] before 1887

Here we see a spread from a book by Saul Davis featuring two images titled "Gould's swamp, looking south" and "Sinking test pit, Gould's swamp." The images, rendered in monochrome, present contrasting views of the same locale. In the upper image, the eye is led by the strong verticals of the tree trunks and converging lines towards a vanishing point at the center, indicative of traditional perspective. This creates an immersive experience, pulling the viewer into the swamp's dense atmosphere. Below, the scene shifts to a construction site. Here, the emphasis is on the angularity of the man-made structure juxtaposed against the natural backdrop. The stark contrast between the organic and the geometric introduces a sense of tension. These photographs function as signs, pointing to the intersection of nature and industry. The artist invites us to consider the cultural codes and power structures implicit in our manipulation and representation of the landscape. They are not merely documents but complex statements about our relationship with the environment.