House and Trees, Lake George 1931

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, House and Trees, Lake George, by pointing his lens at a house and trees. You know, it’s funny: the thing about taking a picture of a house is that it's like taking a picture of someone's face. What kind of face is this house making? Is it serious, pensive, or is it trying to be friendly? I can imagine Stieglitz looking through the camera, trying to catch the house in just the right light. He probably took lots of shots, trying to find the one that really captured what he was feeling. The shadows are great and there’s a strong contrast between the house and the trees and the soft focus of the background, giving the photograph a nice atmospheric quality.