A classic, subtly stunning Arizona sunset. As the title would suggest, the real subject of Fading Light is the evening light. Tucked beneath the mountain line, the sun’s light guides the viewer along the plane which takes up most of the image. The chollas and beavertail cactus in the foreground hold the sun like an …
Windows and Pillars is the only photograph featured in The Allure of Light taken with a digital camera. (A vast majority of Muench’s born digital photographs were taken outside the United States and thus did not fit the scope of this exhibit.) While it still embodies his classic techniques of “near/far” and a dramatic evening …
Hovenweep Storm is one of those photographs one might recognize for its popularity and never have connected to David Muench. Muench has waited until the light aligns with the dwelling and cast the rest of the landscape in shadow, a framing which differs from his typical approach in favor of capturing the most dramatic sky …
Wilson Arch Winterscape is unique for its deviation from Muench’s typical straight through window. In this piece, the curve of the arch frames the background and displays the shifts in light and dark throughout its arc. The values contrast with the winter scene (of which there are so many in this exhibit), especially towards the …
Sandstone Vantage Point features Muench’s classic technique of “near/far” while also utilizing the positive and negative space in an intriguing way. Close to home for Cline Library Special Collections and Archives, this photograph was taken on the opposite side of the San Francisco Peaks from Flagstaff. The rocks in the foreground almost form a window, …
In a flat image like a photograph, it is easy to forget the distance between subjects. Despite the sparce midground, the implication of space in Three Sisters Winterscape is monumental. The top of the foreground rock fails to overtake the mountain line in the background, which allows it to lead the viewer’s eye to the …
In Sandstone Light, the clear, bright sky contrasts with the Yei Bi Chei rock formation. The evening light makes the sandstone feel as though it is glowing, an effect more prominent on the closest rocks. The long shadows cast on the greenery in the midground break up the foreground and background, complementing the color of …
Hohokam Spiral Petroglyph overlooks a forest of saguaros and the Tucson mountain range. In the foreground is a prominent petroglyph in the shape of a spiral, framed by the triangular shape of the boulder. The petroglyph is most likely a migration symbol from the Hohokam culture. The form of the boulder mimics the zigzag of …
The dramatic push of the horizon line in The Goosenecks allows the viewer to weave through the valley unobstructed. Muench does not use this technique often, but it is used here with great effect. The rock layers help to achieve strong leading lines which guide the viewer around the image and form intense depth. The …
Rainpool was selected for its vibrant colors and gradient tones. The warmth in the image comes from a stream of sunlight. Where the shadows fall, the cool pinks and purples follow. In contrast to Muench’s more dramatic lighting techniques, there are no harsh lines of shadow to be found in this photograph. The pools of …
