In the 1920s, the creative conditions for photography were
ripe with possibilities. Technical difficulties were alleviated by new
hand-held cameras and more responsive film, and photographers no longer aimed
to make photos that resembled paintings. Instead, many artists such as Ralph
Steiner embraced the inherent characteristics of the medium. Steiner’s
evocative photographs often present an unusual vantage point chosen for
expressive effect. Here, he photographed director Lee Strasberg with actor
Morris Carnovsky discussing their upcoming theater production. From Steiner’s
bird’s-eye view, the seats seem to press in around them, signifying the
constant specter of the play’s audience and its expectations.