George Washington Bridge, New York / New Jersey 1960

David Vestal made this photograph of the George Washington Bridge using black and white film. It's a traditional artistic material, but one that, like the bridge itself, really came into its own during the industrial age. Vestal was very interested in the gritty reality of modern life, and you can see that in the image's grainy texture and stark contrasts. These qualities arise from the film and developing process. Think about the contrast with other forms of image making like painting, where colors can be mixed to give the impression of reality. Here, Vestal is manipulating the chemicals of photography to give us a particular view. The George Washington Bridge represents the triumph of engineering and labor, and the image evokes all the activity that makes the modern world possible. Through his choice of perspective, Vestal's photograph transforms the act of commuting into a contemplative experience, urging us to think about the materials and labor that underpin our daily lives.