Astoria, Oregon 2007

Robert Adams made "Astoria, Oregon" with black and white film, capturing a seemingly ordinary street scene. What got Adams here, do you think? I imagine him walking around, just looking and thinking, what am I after? The image feels strangely balanced – the planters, the A-frame sign, the bike, all lined up, like a stage set. What could be seen as mundane becomes visually interesting, even beautiful, through the composition and the tones of the black and white. It makes me consider the idea of place. How our personal experiences shape our understanding of the world around us. This photograph prompts us to find beauty in the everyday and to reconsider our relationship to the environment. Like many photographers, Adams helps us pause and pay attention to the world. Each artist brings something different to the table, like having a conversation across time, where each voice builds upon the last. And, as viewers, we get to eavesdrop and join in, finding our own meanings in the mix.