Storm Clouds 1921

Karl Struss made this photograph, `Storm Clouds`, using gelatin silver print. It's a muted palette – greys against dark shadowy figures. I'm imagining Struss out there, waiting for just the right moment, the light shifting, the clouds thickening. Photography is always about capturing a moment in time. I sympathize with the artist out in the elements, feeling the change in weather. I wonder if that figure knows what's coming? The trees loom in the foreground, their silhouettes stark against the sky. There's a real sense of drama. The clouds are thick and heavy, promising rain. The surface of the photograph itself has a smoothness to it, which contrasts with the wildness of the scene. I think about other photographers, like Alfred Stieglitz, who were also trying to capture the essence of a moment. Artists are always in conversation with one another, building on what's come before, so it makes sense that this photograph is still being discussed, still bringing about fresh thought. It’s less about a definitive reading and more about an openness to seeing the world in different ways.