Pivot Irrigation, near the One Hundred Circle Farm and the McNary Dam on the Columbia River, Washington  1991

Emmet Gowin created "Pivot Irrigation, near the One Hundred Circle Farm and the McNary Dam on the Columbia River, Washington" using photography. The aerial perspective transforms the landscape into a patterned field of circles, bisected by the lines of irrigation systems. This image is primarily concerned with form and structure. The circles, a stark contrast to the natural landscape, create a sense of order imposed upon nature. Gowin captures the intersection of human intervention and the environment, the geometric shapes of the irrigated fields disrupt the organic forms of the natural landscape. Each circle has a strong focal point, but is then echoed in the others, as a pattern. This makes us think about the semiotics of landscape photography. The irrigation systems and circular fields become signifiers of industrialization and control over natural resources. The artwork ultimately challenges conventional notions of landscape, inviting contemplation on the relationship between form, function, and environmental impact.