Border village of Kanda, Kirmán before 1895

Frederick Saint John Gore captured this photograph of the Border village of Kanda, Kirmán, focusing on its striking geological form. The monochrome tones emphasize the rough texture and the layered structure of the rock face. The composition is dominated by the imposing verticality of the cliff, which dwarfs the human elements and man-made structures. The photograph’s strength lies in its geological gaze. The careful attention to stratification and the mineralogical character of the rock converts the cliff into a subject for contemplation. We see not just a landscape, but also a study of time, erosion and geological processes. The photograph captures the tension between human settlement and the immutable presence of nature, presenting a kind of structural analysis of the landscape itself. Gore’s work encourages us to reconsider landscape photography. It shifts from mere depiction to a form of visual geology, inviting viewers to decipher the earth’s own layered narrative.