Momostenango, Guatemala 1975

Ed Grazda captured this photograph, Momostenango, Guatemala, using gelatin silver print. The starkness of the black and white medium accentuates the tonal contrasts, drawing our eyes to the interplay of light and shadow. The composition, with its two seated figures, creates a sense of layered space, reinforced by the geometric tiling of the floor. The arrangement leads us to consider the social dynamics at play. The formal elements—the stark lighting, the subjects’ attire, and their arrangement—invite us to reflect on the way meaning emerges from these structural relationships. Consider how Grazda uses the formal constraints of photography to explore themes of social space and individual presence. Ultimately, the photograph destabilizes simple readings, instead becoming a site where identity and representation are constantly negotiated.