Pivot Irrigation, near the One Hundred Circle Farm and the McNary Dam on the Columbia River, Washington  1991

Emmet Gowin’s 1991 photograph “Pivot Irrigation, near the One Hundred Circle Farm and the McNary Dam on the Columbia River, Washington” showcases an aerial perspective of a field of crops in Washington. The circular shapes are created by center-pivot irrigation systems, and the photograph emphasizes the geometric patterns created by this modern agricultural technology. Gowin is known for his large-format black-and-white photographs that often depict landscapes and rural life, often in an abstract and minimalist style.