Take a close look at the two images.
They are both black and white photos of the same subject: a thistle.
What’s strikingly different, though, is one is almost an inkblot, pure black on white.
The other has black, white and various shades of gray.
In other words, the inkblot version is a lot like the polarizing views of the far right or far left. It’s a harsh image with no room for nuance, balance or compromise.
The other image represents a broader population of people who span the spectrum of political beliefs, some leaning more to the left, others to the right and many more bouncing around in between.
So, why is it necessary to use these two images to talk about the social and political turmoil in our country? I hope it is a refreshing way to sit back and consider what we are dealing with, as debates rage about the pandemic, wearing masks, police brutality and the cancel culture.
Many years ago, as I was learning to be a reporter and photographer, I was mesmerized by the photos of Ansel Adams. If you have never seen Adams’ photos, I urge you to check out The Ansel Adams Gallery. His work with portrait photographer Fred Archer to develop the Zone System allowed for his landscape photos to come alive in front of the viewer. I could spend eternity just studying a photo of Bridalveil Fall or Moon and Half Dome, losing myself in the incredible detail.
The intent of the Zone System was to develop a method photographers could use to create stunning images that were detailed and nuanced, even within the shadows of a mountain.
The Zone System did more than provide structure to my attempts to create fully-defined photos. The philosophy also carried over into my journalism career. When an editor would say with authority that this or that happened, they expected me to pen a story that said exactly this or that. More often than not, I came back with a story that said this, that and a few other things. These “other things” were additional perspectives, facts and observations that made the final story more enjoyable and educational. They represented the shades of gray an editor might have missed or didn’t know existed.
From there, my perspective of the world changed, as well. Never one to consistently pull the one-party lever at election time, I preferred to delve into nuances of the campaigns and what each candidate had to offer. I voted Democrat and Republican most of the time and once in a while I found third-party candidate I liked.
So, fast forward to today and we have a society fixated with the stark black and white of numerous issues. There’s little room to study the shades of gray that exist in between. This is evident when someone posts an inappropriate comment on social media and the next thing they know is they are out of work. This is evident in the actions of people who target statues representing Confederate soldiers and leaders. This is evident in the smartphone videos of police beatings. This is evident in the way maskers and anti-maskers treat each other.
There is no room for compromise. There is no room for discussion. There is no room for context. There is no room to study the shades of gray and develop an accurate understanding of what we see unfolding before us.
So, take a look at these images again and think about the issues we are facing. There is no doubt in my mind that system racism, police brutality and the pandemic are topics that need to be addressed. But these are complicated topics, not easily placed in a white or black box. Like the images of Ansel Adams and my modest attempt to refresh use of the Zone System, there is a lot more to the stories we see and hear every day.
Spend time looking at these and other images and pick out the details missing in the inkblot image. Then, think about what’s missing in our public debates on issues of importance. Are the media capturing the facts and providing the context you need to make a decision? Are the people you know fixated on conspiracy theories? Are you jumping to conclusions because of your own beliefs and biases?
In the end, every issue is like an Ansel Adams image. There is a starkness to them, but also a plethora of detail. We will learn and understand so much more if we just take a closer look.
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