Red-Tailed Hawk in Flight, St. Louis 1965

Curator: This is Martin Schweig's photograph, "Red-Tailed Hawk in Flight, St. Louis," a silver gelatin print measuring about 8 by 10 inches. Editor: It strikes me as incredibly dynamic. The blur of the background contrasts beautifully with the sharp focus on the hawk itself. Curator: Hawks, especially in flight, have long held symbolic weight, often representing freedom, perspective, and power. Consider how this image might speak to broader cultural narratives. Editor: I wonder about the context of St. Louis. Was Schweig capturing a wild hawk, or one trained for falconry? How did local environmental policies affect the hawk population? Curator: Good questions! And thinking about the production of the image, photographic practices have historically been tied to colonial narratives. How might this image, regardless of the photographer's intention, participate in or resist those legacies? Editor: It offers a compelling look at how we perceive and interact with the natural world. Food for thought, indeed.