Shore Acres State Park, Oregon 1960

Minor White made this gelatin silver print, titled "Shore Acres State Park, Oregon," sometime in the mid-20th century. White, deeply influenced by Alfred Stieglitz, was part of a generation of photographers who advocated for photography as a fine art. White's work, like that of many of his contemporaries, can be seen as a response to the growing industrialization and urbanization of American life. The image, with its close-up view of natural textures and forms, offers a refuge from the increasing alienation of modern society. The dark, looming rock face contrasts with the open expanse of sand, evoking feelings of both confinement and liberation. What does it mean to find solace in nature when our relationship with the natural world is increasingly fraught? White once said that, “one should not only photograph things for what they are but for what else they are.” As you gaze into the photograph, what do you see? What emotions or memories does it stir within you? This photograph invites us to reflect on our place in the world and the complex relationship between humanity and nature, both historically and in the present.