Gnarled Trees, High Sierras c. 1930s

Editor: We’re looking at William Edward Dassonville’s photograph, "Gnarled Trees, High Sierras." The texture of the tree is so prominent; I’m really drawn to the way the light interacts with its surface. What elements stand out to you? Curator: Consider the labor and materials. The photographic process itself—the chemicals, the paper—are as crucial as the subject. The tree becomes secondary. How did Dassonville’s choices in production methods shape our understanding of the Sierras? Editor: So, it's less about the romantic view of nature and more about the physical act of creating the image? Curator: Precisely. Reflect on the consumption of landscapes, packaged and sold. Does this photo critique or celebrate that process? Editor: That's a fascinating perspective; I never thought of the materials having such agency. Curator: Seeing the photograph as an object in itself changes everything.