Poplars—Lake George 1935

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, Poplars—Lake George, at an unknown date using gelatin silver print. I’m drawn to the texture, how it feels both detailed and soft at the same time. Look at the way the light seems to catch on the leaves and branches. The way the sky is suggested by the clouds, and the way the trees, with their upward thrust, push against this atmospheric background. It’s like Stieglitz is thinking about sculpture, and I am reminded of Rodin, who was obsessed with capturing movement and light in solid form. The more I look at the image, the more I notice how Stieglitz plays with depth and space. It's not just about what's in the foreground, but also the layers of landscape that recede into the distance. Think about how these trees relate to the rest of Stieglitz's work, he’s always trying to create feeling through form. Just like with painting, photography is about seeing, feeling, and making choices.