Songs of the Sky D9 1923

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, Songs of the Sky D9, using gelatin silver print. Look at how Stieglitz coaxes such a range of tones from black and white. There's a real painterly quality to the gradations, almost like he's brushing light onto the paper. You can see how the image is built up through layers of light and shadow, creating depth and texture. The wispy, almost ephemeral quality of the clouds reminds me of Turner's late paintings. Both artists were interested in capturing the sublime, that feeling of awe and terror we experience when confronted with the vastness and power of nature. Ultimately, Stieglitz reminds us that art is a conversation, a way of seeing and feeling that transcends time and medium. He understood that the most profound art comes from a place of deep personal connection and that the process of creation is just as important as the final product.