Railroad Empire across the Heartland

As a photograph curator and amateur photographer, I enjoy immensely perusing rephotography books. I have attempted a rephotography project of my own, and it is far more difficult and time-consuming than I imagined. I can appreciate John R. Charlton’s patience and persistence in his work. Juxtaposing two images that create such a stark historical contrast is an excellent and thought-provoking method of engaging nonacademic audiences. Each viewer will bring his or her own interpretation of the images and come to their own conclusions based on their cultural background and life experiences. What one person overlooks, another will assign great significance. For instance, a rangeland specialist would note the changes from buffalograss to agricultural fields. An architect might eagerly examine the changes in construction materials from native limestone to brick and concrete. That said, it is still helpful to have an interpreter (James E. Sherow) to point out interesting comparisons in the images.

Amateur · Archaeology · Art · Art history · Interpretation (philosophy) · Visual arts · History · Philosophy · Photography and Visual Culture