Pultneyville Orchard Possibly 1977 - 1980

Roger Mertin made this gelatin silver print, Pultneyville Orchard, and what strikes me is its tonal range, from the palest grey sky to the deep blacks of the shadows under the trees. It's like a drawing, built up of subtle, almost imperceptible marks, all contributing to the overall image. The beauty of photography is the way it captures light, and here, the light seems to be caressing the gnarled branches of the trees. The surface is smooth, almost velvety, and you can get lost in the details of the bark and twigs. See how the main tree splits into a myriad of branches? It’s like a nervous system exposed, fragile yet resilient. Mertin’s photographs remind me a little of the stark landscapes of artists like Ansel Adams, but with a more intimate, personal touch. Art, at its best, is an ongoing dialogue, and each artist adds their unique voice to the conversation. It’s not about answers, but about asking better questions.