The Cloud c. 1912

Alvin Langdon Coburn created this photograph, "The Cloud," with a platinum print. You know, working with black and white is kind of like setting the stage for a feeling. Look at how the cloud is placed, almost like a thought bubble above the trees. The tones range from the softest grays to rich, dark browns and blacks. The light is so gentle that it makes you want to reach out and touch the cloud; it's so fluffy you could almost fall into it. The branches kind of claw their way up toward the sky, but the cloud is a soft, gentle counterpoint. It's like Coburn is showing us a little drama playing out between earth and sky. Maybe Georgia O’Keefe saw something similar. It makes you wonder what they thought about when they looked up. It's about not knowing, really, about letting the eye wander.