Discussion - "The Nature of Photographs" by Stephen Shore

His reputation proceeds him; Shore is regarded as an influential figure in the field of photography and after finishing this text (basically a crash course in photography), I was please to find that it was ridden with photographs which assisted an amateur photographers such as myself to understand such concepts such as focus, perspective and frame. The piece to your left, entitled "Gas Station, Reedsville, West Virginia, 1936" by Walker Evans, was one which left a lasting impression. On the surface it is such a simple, almost unimpressive shot, yet there are so many elements at work in his photograph. The black and white color tone washes over the shot, unifying the foreground with the mid and background creating a collage-like effect. If you focus on the wooden pole slightly left of center, running your eyes up and down the column and then sharply shift your gaze to the gas station (motor co.) the illusion of depth materializes (I learned this nifty trick from this very book). There is also something soft and delicate about the sky in this photograph; it looks as if it exists somewhere far off in the distance unperturbed by what is going on in the scene, yet its gentle hue unifies the objects within the frame. This photograph challenges our perspective and I believe that the true intent inherent in the study of photography is providing others with the means by which to view the world a little differently and opening their eyes to help them see things that are not always readily perceived.