Longmont, Colorado 1982 - 1992

Robert Adams made this photograph, Longmont, Colorado, most likely with a large format camera and black and white film. The range of greys achieved through the photo-chemical process are astounding in their tonal range. Look closely at the surface of the wood panelling, which is in sharp focus, in contrast to the white blooms which are slightly blurred. This gives a flattening effect to the image, bringing the background and foreground into a similar plane. Note the gesture of the wasp, a dark mark, right in the heart of the flower. Adams often photographed the changing landscape of the American West, and the image is a nod to the tradition of still life while also reflecting the social and environmental concerns of the time. I can't help but compare Adams' images to the work of the Bechers, Bernd and Hilla, who also used photography to document a changing industrial landscape. Both approaches demonstrate the power of photography to capture and communicate complex ideas about our relationship to the world around us.