Rocky Flats Mesa, Colorado 1987

"Rocky Flats Mesa, Colorado" (1987) by Richard Misrach is a striking landscape photograph that captures the vastness and solitude of the American West. The image features a lone, dark tree silhouetted against a distant mountain range, set against a muted sky. The foreground is dominated by a field of dry, golden grass, punctuated by a few scattered wildflowers. The scene evokes a sense of tranquility and isolation, but also hints at the potential for environmental damage, as the Rocky Flats Plant, a former nuclear weapons facility, is located nearby. Misrach's work is known for its stark beauty and its exploration of the relationship between nature and human intervention. This photograph is a powerful example of his ability to capture the complexities of the American landscape.