Untitled c. 1995

This is an untitled black and white photograph by Joe Deal. Look at the stark tonality, the contrast between light and shadow, and the textures of the construction site. I think Deal is interested in the strange beauty of a work in progress. The composition has this kind of gritty elegance. There’s a tension between the raw, industrial elements and the expansive cityscape in the background. The scaffolding, draped in protective sheeting, looks almost ghostly against the skyline. You can feel the weight and solidity of the structures against the lightness of the sky. Deal's part of a long line of photographers, and artists in general, documenting the changing landscape, and the impact of human activity on the environment. I imagine him carefully framing this scene, trying to capture the strange poetry of urban development. He’s not just recording, but composing a scene, finding a way to make something beautiful out of the everyday chaos.