Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel) 1929

Franz Weiser made this photograph of the Ferris Wheel, sometime between 1892 and 1970. I love the feeling that I am looking at something very, very far away. Imagine the sepia-toned world Weiser inhabited, a world where the Ferris wheel stood as a symbol of modernity and wonder. You can feel how the texture is so present; the grays of the sky, the dark metal of the machine, and the lettering in the foreground. The way the light catches the edges, creating a delicate balance between form and shadow. The image evokes a sense of longing, of reaching for something just beyond grasp. The geometric forms of the wheel contrast with the organic shapes of the surrounding landscape, reminding us of the tension between technology and nature. Weiser’s photograph becomes a meditation on time, progress, and the enduring human desire to explore new horizons.