Untitled (Atomic Bomb Test Crater Possibly 1950 - 1960

This photograph of an atomic bomb test crater was made by an anonymous photographer, at an unknown date. Look at the image of the crater and think about the process that created it. It’s like the ultimate mark-making, a gesture of near-total destruction. The photograph is a study in contrasts, light and shadow, presence and absence. The colour is fairly uniform. The tonality of the image is dry, reflecting the arid location of the shot. Yet, the shadows which describe the edge of the crater are inky, like a void. I’m struck by the red object in the lower foreground of the image. It’s a tiny splash of bright colour, easily missed. This small detail draws you into the image and offers a sense of scale. Thinking about the anonymous maker of this image, I’m reminded of Ed Ruscha’s photographic books, like “Every Building on the Sunset Strip.” Both share a deadpan aesthetic, which makes you focus on the subject itself, rather than the style of the photographer. Art can take so many forms, even a document can be deeply thought-provoking.