Untitled (boxing ring knock out) c. 1950

Editor: This silver gelatin print by John Deusing, titled "Untitled (boxing ring knock out)," captures a dramatic moment. The high contrast and stark lighting really emphasize the physicality of the sport. What strikes you about the formal elements here? Curator: Note how the photographer uses the stark contrast to emphasize the dynamic composition. The referee's outstretched arm creates a diagonal that bisects the frame, drawing the eye from the fallen boxer to the triumphant one. The flatness of the image plane compresses the action, heightening the sense of immediacy. Editor: It's like the image itself is a punch. I didn’t notice how the diagonal line really creates tension. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. The photographer manipulates light and shadow, shape and form, to convey the energy of the scene. A photograph such as this invites us to consider the power of formal elements to convey meaning.