Untitled (police man sitting on motorcycle talking to pedestrian) 1954

Editor: Here we have an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, showing a policeman on a motorcycle talking to a pedestrian. The composition is very striking. What elements do you see as most important in the photograph? Curator: Observe how the inverted tonality emphasizes form and line. The stark contrasts create a hierarchy, drawing attention to the geometries of the motorcycle and the architecture. Do you see how the composition leads your eye? Editor: Yes, the lines create a certain tension. The inverted image amplifies those formal qualities. I hadn't thought about it that way. Curator: Indeed. The interplay of light and shadow, shape and line, is all the photograph offers. Editor: Thanks, I'll look more at the shapes next time.