Untitled c. 1911

This untitled photograph of a car was made by Spooner & Wells at an unknown date. It's interesting how the car, in this up-close shot, almost looks like a face, doesn't it? The image has a real sense of depth and volume because of the close point of view. The tonality of the picture is pretty interesting, too. Look at how the shiny, reflective surfaces of the car contrast with the flat matte background. This tension between flatness and depth really creates a dynamic viewing experience, and it makes you want to reach out and touch the surface, doesn't it? The subject matter here reminds me of the work of Ed Ruscha. It seems to embrace the everyday mundane in a similarly deadpan way. I love how this photograph is so straightforward and unapologetic in its depiction of a somewhat banal object. Ultimately, this piece invites us to slow down and appreciate the beauty in the ordinary.