Georgia O'Keeffe 1918

Here’s a photograph of Georgia O’Keeffe by Alfred Stieglitz. It’s a black and white photograph, and it feels like a study in contrasts. I can only imagine the darkroom drama and the many choices Stieglitz had to make. It’s like he’s sculpting with light, layering shadows to form O'Keeffe’s strong features, setting off her soft scarf. I like to think about his decisions and how they shape the way we see her. The whole thing has this beautiful, somber quality, but it's also full of life. It feels a little like a painting, in that sense. Photography, like painting, can freeze a moment in time, yes, but it also captures something more profound. And this, of course, relates to other artists, too, all of us feeling around in the dark, trying to make sense of the world.