Abandoned car, Carbon County, Wyoming 1977

Robert Adams made this photograph in Carbon County, Wyoming, using black and white film. The tones feel considered, almost sparse. It reminds me of how a painter mixes the perfect grey. I’m drawn to the stark, washed-out quality, it’s like the image has been bleached by the sun. Look at the detail in the foreground, the rough texture of the earth and the shadow of what I take to be the photographer. I see the path winding through the landscape, guiding us toward the horizon. It's a pathway to nowhere and everywhere at the same time. It makes me think about time, and how it erodes both nature and man-made things. Adams’ pictures remind me of the landscapes of the Bechers, or even some of Ed Ruscha's books. They all share an interest in everyday, overlooked views. Adams isn’t trying to capture some grand vista, but rather, to find something meaningful in the ordinary.