Langdale Fell, Motion Frozen/Frozen Motion 1979

John Hilliard made this photographic work, Langdale Fell, Motion Frozen/Frozen Motion, using black and white film. Hilliard emerged as an artist in Britain during a period when photography was still fighting for recognition as a fine art form. Here, we see a diptych, with two images of the same subject shown side by side. One is a sharp, detailed depiction of a rocky landscape, while the other captures the blur of flowing water. The work plays with photography’s supposed objectivity. It challenges the viewer to consider how the photographer's choices influence the final image. The work may be seen as part of a broader cultural trend in Britain at the time, where artists were questioning traditional forms and institutions. By using photography in a fine art context, Hilliard critiques the established art world. To better understand this work, scholars might look to contemporary art criticism and histories of photography. We can then appreciate how it challenges conventions and reflects its time.