Point Lobos, California 1960

Minor White’s photograph, Point Lobos, captures a scene where earth meets water. The dark, almost monochromatic palette evokes a sense of mystery and the sublime. The composition is structured by contrasting textures and tones. Crystalline forms, juxtaposed against softer, cloud-like shapes, create a dynamic tension. The absence of a clear horizon destabilizes our sense of space. Is this a macro view of ice crystals, or a distant planet? White was deeply interested in the potential of photography to reveal deeper, often spiritual truths. He used the camera to explore the boundaries between the visible and the invisible. The textural contrasts and tonal range are not just aesthetic choices; they are fundamental to how White imbues this image with symbolic weight. By transforming a natural scene into an abstract composition, White invites us to contemplate the elemental forces that shape our world.