Untitled (gas station) c. 1945

This photograph of a gas station was made by Robert Burian, using the traditional method of film photography. The transformation from a three-dimensional scene to a two-dimensional image relies on a series of chemical reactions, capturing light and shadow in a specific way. The monochrome aesthetic emphasizes the geometry of the architecture, and the stark bareness of the trees. This image is not just a neutral record, but a deliberate arrangement of tones and shapes. Consider the labor involved, from the photographer to the gas station attendants. This wasn't always a self-serve world, but a social and economic landscape shaped by the flow of goods, services, and human interaction. By attending to the material and historical dimensions of photography, and the social relations that it depicts, we can move beyond an appreciation of the image alone, and consider its broader cultural significance.