Near Salt Lake City, Utah 1968

Don Donaghy made this photograph, "Near Salt Lake City, Utah," without a date, using what looks like the full range of black and white tonality. It’s a process of careful exposure, development, and printing, turning light into emotion. The texture is amazing. Look at the granular quality of the light reflecting off the car and the smooth tonality of the figure. The way he's captured the light, you can almost feel the heat of the sun and the dry desert air. The whole picture feels like a memory, fading and sharp all at once. Like those moments when you're not sure if you’re looking at something real or something you've only imagined. Donaghy has some interesting parallels with the work of Robert Adams. Both shared a dedication to photographing the American West, focusing on landscapes marked by human presence. But each has their own visual language. The conversation continues.