Untitled (men watching oil well guages) 1966

Editor: This gelatin silver print, titled "Untitled (men watching oil well gauges)" by Harry Annas, is a study in contrasts. The figures seem oddly ceremonial around what appears to be a piece of industrial equipment. What do you make of this scene? Curator: The photograph evokes a sense of ritual, doesn't it? Note how the figures are arranged almost symmetrically around the gauges. The gauge, a mechanical analog, recalls not only the industrial age, but also the scientific instruments used in alchemy or divination. What memories or emotions does this industrial landscape trigger in you? Editor: I see a bit of mystery mixed with routine, I hadn't thought about alchemy at all. Thanks, that's illuminating! Curator: The image reminds us that technology itself becomes a repository of meaning and expectation over time. It's fascinating to consider how these associations shift with each generation.