Songs of the Sky 1924

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, Songs of the Sky, with a camera, and light, and knowing exactly where to stand. The composition is so simple: a dark landmass at the bottom, and above, moody greys swirling to make clouds. But that sun! It just breaks through, doesn't it? Like a memory, or a sudden feeling. I bet Stieglitz waited a long time for that exact moment. You know, making art is a bit like cloud-gazing. You start with something formless, searching for shapes, for meaning. Stieglitz was always looking for a way to capture something real, something beyond just what we see. Maybe that's why he kept looking up. Maybe he was looking for answers, or maybe just for a good song. Like all artists, he was in conversation with Turner and Constable, with the Hudson River School. The exchange of ideas through time inspires me to continue the conversation. It's a reminder that ambiguity can be beautiful, and uncertainty, a door to seeing things in a different light.