Untitled (photograph of Navy helicoptor tied down) 1954

This photograph of a Navy helicopter tied down was created by Robert Burian using photographic processes. In this image, the labor is subtly embedded, a behind-the-scenes look at the work it takes to secure a machine that symbolizes American military might. The photograph itself, with its darkroom techniques, is evidence of careful craft. But the real story here is the helicopter. Consider all the stages of industrial production that went into its making, and the collective effort that goes into manufacturing, operating, and maintaining it. Photography, with its reproducible nature, democratized image-making, but its real power lies in its ability to document the world around us, capturing moments of both extraordinary and mundane labor. By focusing our attention on the 'tie-down method', Burian asks us to think about the physical labor and hidden support structures that keep these machines in place.