These three photos have one thing in common : a diagonal line that run through their centers.

Photo 1: The Shadow of the Stairs

The shadow of this stairway is a dramatic diagonal line crossing the frame. This can be thought of as a metaphor for change, from light to dark, or between levels. Because of the way light and shade work together here to suggest both movement and stillness, the viewer can reflect on the many feet which have trod this spot. This evokes mystery by the extreme contrast of light and dark areas; it just makes me wonder what was on the other side. A really stunning photograph, even carrying elegance into one of the most ordinary architectural features, and having the viewer contemplate the obscure pasts present in our city environments.

Photo 2: The Train Tracks

The dynamic focal point created by the train tracks draws the eye to the horizon. A viewpoint of this type creates relations to waiting and travel, and it displays the excitement of city life and displacement. Because of the depth created by the shade on the rails, it could be inferred that there are travelers with something to say someplace behind them. This picture is a meditation on the passage of time-the disappearing track into the horizon suggests unseen places. The physical structure of the track is enmeshed with the intangible essence of motion and experience in order to capture the pulse of city life within this work.

Photo 3: The Pedestrian Boundary

The edge of this path and the diagonal line caused by the shadow of the sun can be seen in this picture. It is interesting to note that the light and dark used here invites consideration of the boundaries we all continually cross. The duality-the different kinds of opposites-between safety and unknowns, between the activity of the city and the peaceful seclusion found in the shadows, is immense because of this striking visual contrast between light on the pavement and the surrounding darkness. This picture would encourage meditation on personal life stories taking place around the neighborhood, since each pedestrian leaves traces of his or her tale behind. This means a closer integration with the environment that results from combining in toto the aspects of light and shadow into one vibrant tapestry of urban life.

Taken together, these three images are three diagonal lines that speak to the shadow acting as some kind of narrator within the cityscapes. This abstraction in Sugimoto’s art encourages introspection and makes one aware of the complexity and beauty of the environment in which we exist. Beyond merely capturing a particular time within an individual life, each photograph invites the viewer into deeper memories and sentiment affecting the way one lives out the day-to-day experience.