Untitled 1980

This "Untitled" photograph was captured by Ursula Schulz-Dornburg sometime in the last few decades, we don't know exactly when, using black and white film. There's something serene yet unsettling about the way she frames the image. The horizon line, bisecting the composition, divides the earthly from the ethereal. Note the soft, muted tones, which invite contemplation, yet the sharp focus reveals the stark reality of the scene. The presence of the two women, cloaked in black, adds a layer of mystery. Their reflections shimmer in the water, creating a doubling effect, blurring the line between reality and illusion. Their anonymity is striking. Are they spectres? Schulz-Dornburg's work reminds me of Bernd and Hilla Becher's austere industrial landscapes, or perhaps the stark beauty of Robert Adams' American West. Like theirs, her photographs challenge us to see beauty in the mundane. The conversation between these artists is an enduring testament to the power of seeing anew.