Old News.

Walking into the gallery I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The photos Jeff Sprang has taken throughout these years were for a news journal, and not really for an art gallery. But in my opinion they were all view able in an artistic way. Each photo had it's own story, and they were all unique, ranging from a portrait of a blacksmith to an arm wrestling contest. They were so interesting I couldn't help but try to place myself in that moment in time and try to wonder what brought Mr. Sprang to this specific place at this time.

"Telephone Lineman School" was the photo that really caught my eye. At first I wasn't sure what was going on. The description reads "These men, training as telephone linemen, are passing a basketball from one to another. The purpose of the drill is to teach them to trust their safety equipment." The picture is taken looking up at the men while they're in mid-toss. The poles are arranged in a circle, and probably quite high up. The men are only attached to the poles by some sort of leather-looking, thick strap with foot holds. They all have on helmets, gloves, work boots, everything they would need if it were a real life situation. It's in black and white, which I think is perfect for this picture because the white sky makes the men on the poles really stand out.

When I look at this photo, I get a sense of anxiety. I can just imagine being up on that pole, who knows how far from the ground, and having to trust a single strap to hold me up. I'd be terrified. But looking at most of the men, it almost seems like they're enjoying themselves. They look relaxed like they really do trust their equipment, I guess they have no other choice. It's also interesting to see the comparison between something terrifying like being strapped to a pole some unknown number of feet from the ground, and tossing a basketball between friends. It's like comparing a poisonous spider to a tray of warm cookies. It doesn't fit. But the way this picture makes me feel is why I love it so much. It makes me feel like I'm right up there with those men, tossing a basketball around. It's scary and enjoyable at the same time.