Cemetery Statue and Oil Derricks, Long Beach, California Possibly 1939 - 1976

This gelatin silver print was made by Ansel Adams, who, with his camera, captured a cemetery statue and oil derricks in Long Beach, California. I'm curious about what Adams was thinking when he made this shot. There is a wonderful contrast between the statue of a woman in the foreground with her sorrowful gaze, and a field of oil wells dominating the background. I can imagine Adams walking around the location thinking about the composition, waiting until he got the right light. The statue is beautiful. It is a perfect work of art in and of itself. Adams has added to it, almost painting with light to create an atmosphere of both beauty and dread. He knew exactly what he was doing by playing with light and shadow to create a somber, haunting image. Photographers like Adams engage in conversations with painters and sculptors through their work. This image suggests how the sublime and the industrial are forever intertwined. Adams invites us to ponder these ideas with him.