Expressway, near Colton, California 1982

This photograph, "Expressway, near Colton, California," was shot by Robert Adams, probably using a large format camera and black and white film. Imagine him setting up his equipment, maybe on a hazy morning, trying to capture the way the natural world bumps up against the man-made. There's a real tenderness in the way he frames those trees against the distant highway, a kind of visual poem about the everyday. The tones are so gentle, almost like a whisper. It's not just about documenting a scene, it’s about feeling it. The layering of the trees, the soft focus, and that horizon line create a quiet tension. It’s like he’s asking, "How do we live with progress?" Adams is part of a long conversation of artists exploring the American landscape. He reminds us that beauty and unease can coexist, and maybe that's what makes art so alive.