Richard Misrach: On The Beach 2.0

Richard Misrach documented cargo ships in the San Francisco Bay during a critical moment for the global shipping industry. Made in the light of early morning or late afternoon, Misrach’s images suggest a comparison to J.M.W Turner’s atmospheric maritime paintings, and recall the careful observation of the sky and water in Misrach’s own “Golden Gate” and “On the Beach” series.

This latest installation in Misrach’s ongoing Desert Cantos series explores the entire length of the US/Mexico border, in photographs made with a large-format camera as well as images captured with an iPhone.

Photographed from a distant, raised vantage point, Misrach’s images pose the mote-sized human figure against a looming and abstract pattern of sand and ocean waves, exploring the tension between control and release.

Photographed over several years from an unchanging vantage point, the series offers a meditation on the light, color, and atmosphere which transcend a fixed and familiar view.