Former Cambria Steel Mill, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 2012

Editor: This is Andrew Borowiec’s photograph, "Former Cambria Steel Mill, Johnstown, Pennsylvania" taken in 2012. The color palette is quite interesting, this interplay between a cool, inviting swimming pool and the industrial backdrop. I’m intrigued by how those shapes interact and divide the space. What catches your eye in terms of the composition? Curator: Indeed. Consider the dialogue between foreground and background. The rectilinear pool, elevated and self-contained, acts as a clearly defined form. The background displays horizontal emphasis of the old mill. Notice also, how the organic, hilly texture of foliage opposes both of those regular shapes and reinforces the visual hierarchy and separation in the spatial planes. Editor: I hadn't thought about that before. The composition really isolates the pool. It is so clean and self-contained against the rather drab background. Curator: Precisely. Think of it as a series of planes and intersecting lines. The green vegetation acts as an imperfect grid or frame to draw our attention to what is between these contrasting forms and their implied lines. Even the telephone pole to the right offers a linear disruption in the pictorial field. Do you find there is any implied meaning within those structures? Editor: Well, maybe it's a comment on contrasts -- nature versus industry, decay versus leisure. The man-made object of the pool sits right within an overgrown area next to the massive old mill. Curator: An insightful observation. Reflect upon how this interplay is facilitated through line, shape, and contrasting color. Notice how our sightlines engage in each part in unique fashion. Editor: Thanks for pointing those things out, I learned so much about visual organization today! Curator: It has been a pleasure to unpack how formal aspects contribute to broader readings.