Katowice, Poland 2001

Michael Ackerman took this photograph, “Katowice, Poland,” and printed it on paper. You know, what grabs me first is the moodiness, the light and shadow wrestling for attention. Look at the grain of the photograph, almost like brushstrokes, giving it a tangible, gritty feel. It's a reminder that art isn't just about seeing; it's about experiencing. It's about the artist's hand—or in this case, the eye—guiding us through a moment. I’m drawn to the way Ackerman lets the details emerge from the dark. Notice the smoke curling around the man's face, obscuring and revealing at the same time. It reminds me of how we piece together memories, fragments floating in and out of focus. There's a tension in the image, a push and pull between what's hidden and what's visible. I'm thinking about the street photography of Robert Frank, that same ability to find beauty in the everyday, in the overlooked corners of life. Ultimately, it is a work that invites us to pause, to feel, and to connect.