Longmont, Colorado 1982 - 1992

Robert Adams made this photograph of Longmont, Colorado, and I’m immediately drawn to its play of light and shadow, like a dappled memory. The photo has this beautiful range of tones from dark to light that almost feels like a pencil drawing. The texture of the grass, the wildflowers clustered around the stone, even the plaid of the figure’s shirt, become these intricate patterns when translated into black and white. Look at that single stone amidst the daisies. It’s like a marker, an anchor in this sea of ephemeral blooms. The surface is rough and solid against the delicate petals, creating a tension that’s both comforting and unsettling. Adams reminds me a bit of Walker Evans in his focus on the American landscape, but there's also something uniquely quiet and contemplative about his work. It’s as if he’s inviting us to find beauty in the overlooked, to see the poetry in the ordinary.