South Temple Street in Salt Lake City 1924 - 1926

This is a photograph of South Temple Street in Salt Lake City, Utah, probably made with a simple camera and black and white film. It looks like a commercial product, made to be reproduced and sold. What strikes me most about this image is the way everything seems to be laid out, each form carefully considered. The texture of the buildings contrasts with the smoothness of the street, and the cars form a rhythmic pattern along the road. The mountains in the background give depth to the composition. This isn’t just a picture of a place; it’s about the relationships of forms. The composition feels staged, or perhaps idealized. The mountains in the background are crisp and clear. This element pulls the whole piece together, giving it a sense of place and anchoring the entire scene in reality. This makes me think about the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher who also photographed industrial buildings. While Holmes seeks to document a place, the Bechers were documenting a specific type of industrial building. Just like painting, photography captures a moment, and becomes a conversation between the artist and the world.