The Lewis Glacier, Mt. Kenya, 1934 (B) Possibly 2014 - 2015

Simon Norfolk made this photograph, The Lewis Glacier, Mt. Kenya, 1934 (B), in 1963, and it strikes me as a piece about time, loss, and change. The mountain is captured in sharp detail, yet it’s the fiery line snaking across the landscape that really grabs you. The texture is rough, rocky, and cold, but this is juxtaposed against that blazing orange. The fire isn't just a visual element; it's visceral. You can almost feel the heat radiating off the image, clashing with the cool blues of the sky and the stark white of the remaining glacier. Look at how that fiery line both emphasizes and erases the mountain's features. It’s like Norfolk is performing a kind of visual alchemy, turning something solid into something ephemeral. It reminds me of Andy Goldsworthy’s ephemeral earthworks, temporary interventions into the landscape. Both artists invite us to reflect on the transient nature of existence, and our role in it. Ultimately, this photograph is less about what we see, and more about what we feel and remember.