One piece that stood out to me at the Howard Greenberg Art Gallery was “Clock Tower,” by Vera Lutter. Like many of her photographs, “Clock Tower” was obtained through a technique known as “camera obscura,” which translates to “dark room.” This was one of the earliest forms of the modern camera in which a darkened box contained a small lens that was able to reflect incoming light through a small opening (sometimes referred to as a “pinhole”). As a result, the light from the room would reflect the image of the room inside of the small box. Over time, the camera obscura would be engineered to become lightweight, portable, and be able to carry a smaller lens, thus, the scope of the image would be able to capture a farther distance, making it possible to photograph distant landscapes, as opposed to single rooms.
The image itself does not show an actual clock tower, but rather the perspective of one overlooking Brooklyn. At first, the black and white contrast of the Brooklyn background caught my attention. The picture was sharp and bright as it most likely depicts the Brooklyn nightlife, as during daylight, there would be more gray color in the image. Nevertheless, Lutter is unique in the image as she incorporates two perspectives in two distinct images (i.e. the clock and the Brooklyn view). In other words, the image differs from a typical landscape photograph as the inclusion of a clock’s perspective puts a spin on the normal landscape image, as seen through Lutter’s other works. The clock is able to block parts of the image, giving it some sense of mystery. However, the image gives an overall calm mood as one can be able to appreciate the aesthetic beauty of nightlife as it is illuminated by the lights of the city and contrast of the white clock against the black sky.
Moreover, the image is unique as the clock and still image [background] cannot be reproduced. The hands will only be the same every 12 hours, and the overall setting reoccurs every 24 hours. Most likely, the exact same combination of clock and landscape will not reappear. Therefore, the image is both simple and complex in its timing and positioning as it instantaneous capture of the camera obscura helps to view the image as a whole more than viewing separate details. Hence, “Clock Tower,” provides a unique example of how one might be able to be connected with the outside world while being satisfied with his/her own personal passion at a distance, yet, be immersed in the world’s natural beauty. It may be frozen in time, but it will last forever.
