Equivalent 1925

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph of clouds, called Equivalent, using gelatin silver. The grayscale tones in this photograph are incredible, so many subtle shifts from light to dark! You almost forget it's a photograph, and not a drawing. In a way, Stieglitz is drawing with light, capturing the ephemeral, shifting nature of clouds. The clouds have this great sense of volume, like brushstrokes layering up to create depth and texture. Look at the bottom of the picture, how the lighter clouds seem to push forward. It's amazing how Stieglitz uses the contrast to create such a dynamic composition. It reminds me of Gerhard Richter’s cloud paintings, they both manage to find an abstract beauty in the everyday sky. It's a reminder that art isn't just about what you see, but how you see it.