From Back Window, 133 West 22nd Street, New York 1963

David Vestal made this photograph from his back window at 133 West 22nd Street in New York, using light and shadow to carve out depth. It's a study in contrasts, isn't it? Look at how Vestal orchestrates light and form, particularly the fire escape's skeletal structure against the dense brick. Notice that high contrast, that gritty texture? It's not just about the subject, but how the light interacts with the surfaces, transforming the mundane into a dramatic composition. The geometric precision juxtaposed with the organic chaos of the city—it’s like a visual argument. It reminds me a bit of László Moholy-Nagy, who also experimented with photography and abstraction. Like Moholy-Nagy, Vestal challenges us to see the world from unexpected angles, finding beauty in the overlooked. Art is, after all, about seeing and feeling, not just knowing.