Jerome Mellquist and Paul Rosenfeld, Lake George 1931

This black and white photograph by Alfred Stieglitz captures a scene at Lake George. You can see two men, Jerome Mellquist and Paul Rosenfeld, relaxing on a porch, cups in hand. I am thinking about Stieglitz, outside with his camera, composing the shot. It is a casual moment with a formality in how he has framed the composition. I see the way the light falls across the porch, creating shadows that add depth and interest to the scene. The textures of the wooden planks, the soft fabric of their clothes, all these details carefully captured. Look how Stieglitz creates a sense of intimacy between the viewers and the sitters. He is inviting you to be part of their conversation. This work reminds me how photography, like painting, is about capturing light, texture, and above all, feeling. Stieglitz is talking to other artists, asking questions about representation and reality. It’s as though he is saying ‘Look at this, what do you see?’ and then inviting you into the process.