Desert and Blue Sky, Egypt Possibly 1978 - 1979

Harry Callahan made this photograph, Desert and Blue Sky, Egypt, using colour film, sometime during his travels. I find it so interesting how Callahan, known for his stark black and white images, made use of color here to create an almost ethereal feel. The texture of the desert is palpable, a mix of rough, stony foreground giving way to the smooth, rolling dunes in the distance. It’s the sky, though, that really grabs me. That gradient from a deep, almost electric blue at the top, fading into a pale, hazy horizon, feels infinite. It reminds me of some of those early Diebenkorn Ocean Park paintings. But what really sets this image apart is its deceptive simplicity. The composition is spare, almost minimal, yet it evokes a sense of vastness. It’s a reminder that art isn't about showing everything. Instead, it’s about allowing the viewer to see.