AA-2026-3F022C
On the image
The decision was made to capture this particular rock formation from a moving vehicle. Many people have opinions about the best way to record scenery whilst travelling, and this person clearly believed speed was of the essence.
The cliff face, predictably, remained stationary. The photographer's chosen mode of transport, however, did not. This often results in a visual effect that some might call abstract, and others, merely out of focus.
The deep blue overhead provides a stark contrast to the layered geology, proving that even a photograph taken with a sense of urgency can still document the enduring presence of large, unmoving things. The double yellow line at the bottom confirms modern infrastructure was definitely involved.
The historian's note
This image, captured during the 1970s, depicts a geological formation from a moving vehicle, likely a car on a highway. The visible blur is characteristic of amateur photography from this era when photographic technology, particularly for low-light or high-speed conditions, was less advanced than today.
The scene showcases the type of landscape found in arid or semi-arid regions, distinguished by its layered rock formations and sparse vegetation. The presence of a road with double yellow lines indicates a well-developed transportation network, common across the United States by the mid-20th century.
It serves as a record of popular travel and tourism in the 1970s, where capturing sights from a vehicle was a common practice despite the technical limitations it imposed on image clarity.
Subjects & keywords — each links to a search
Visually related — by likeness
Motion Blur Cliff Face, 1970s Road Trip. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-3F022C. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/motion-blur-cliff-face-1970s-road-trip.
@misc{aaAA20263F022C,
title = {Motion Blur Cliff Face, 1970s Road Trip},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-3F022C},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/motion-blur-cliff-face-1970s-road-trip}
}TY - ART TI - Motion Blur Cliff Face, 1970s Road Trip PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-3F022C UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/motion-blur-cliff-face-1970s-road-trip ER -
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