Longmont, Colorado, Sally, the Backyard 1982

This is a photograph by Robert Adams of Longmont, Colorado, showing Sally the dog in the backyard. It looks like it was made using traditional photographic techniques. The photograph captures a very specific moment, with Sally suspended mid-air, almost weightless. The monochromatic palette emphasizes the textures: the dog's fluffy fur, the blades of grass, the rough surface of the wooden fence. The contrast between the dark shadows and the bright areas gives it a stark, almost graphic quality. Look at the shadow cast by the dog. It is as if there are two dogs, one substantial and one just a fleeting presence. Adams' work often deals with the relationship between humans and their environment, and there’s a sense of this here. The ordinariness of the backyard, combined with the dog’s joyful leap, speaks to the simple pleasures of life amidst the everyday. It reminds me of some of William Eggleston’s photographs, with their focus on the beauty of the mundane. Ultimately, it’s a piece that invites us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary, and to find joy in the unexpected.