Craig LAW

Craig Law (American, born 1946), Haystacks & Railroad Tracks Near Red Rocks, Cache Valley, Utah, 1983, gelatin silver print.

American, born 1946
Haystacks and Railroad Tracks Near Red Rocks, Cache Valley, Utah, 1983
Gelatin silver print on paper

  • Craig Law was a photography professor at Utah State University for the majority of his career. He has documented local landscapes for decades, with particular attention to places with Barrier Canyon-style rock art.

  • In 1854, the Latter-Day Saints territorial legislature offered a cash reward for finding the first useable coal within 40 miles of Salt Lake City. Railroads were built in conjunction with the resulting mines to transport material throughout the state and region. Those railways continue to support Utah's agriculture, mining, and other commercial industries today.

Craig Law (American, born 1946), Coal Extraction Equipment and Train, Near Green River, Utah,1983, gelatin silver print.

Coal Extraction Equipment and Train, Near Green River, Utah, 1983 (printed 1985)

Gelatin silver print on paper

 

  • Utah coal production reached an all-time high in the early 1980s. It has since declined, leaving more than 450 abandoned mines throughout the state.

  • Why do you think the photographer decided to make this photo black and white? Notice the contrast between light and shadow. How does this create visual interest in the artwork?

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