Overlook • Corwin Grably-Shrager

Overlook

Corwin Grably-Shrager (b. 2003)

Overlook is a piece that blends wind instruments and synthesizers to evoke the sensation of viewing a layered photograph from a distance. The image I chose from the Lost in the Wilderness series features three distinct visual layers: two almost alien-like structures in the foreground, two unusual trees in the middle ground, and faint outlines of peaceful-looking houses and hills in the background. The wind instruments offer a grounded interpretation of the photo’s elements, while the synthesizers suggest there’s more hidden beneath the surface. Together, they create a sonic ‘overlook’—a musical perspective that captures the image’s depth and mystery.

Image: Ansel Adams, UC.H.5, October, 1966/2024. Scan from original negative. Collection of the California Museum of Photography at UCR ARTS, 1987.0027.6.UC.H.5