“Central Park” is a sepia toned photograph of a tree lined walkway through New York City’s famous park located in the center of Manhattan. The trees have lost some of their leaves signaling that fall has arrived. They litter the concrete path that is weathered and cracked. Wooden benches are situated on both sides at regular intervals. Lamp posts are dotted between the seats and appear to be lit. A solitary man appears in the distance taking a leisurely walk through the serene and quiet landscape. Sepia toning is a chemical treatment applied to black and white photographs to give them a warmer tone. The chemicals convert the traditional metallic silver in the print to a sulfide based compound which can be applied in varying degrees of intensity. The process began in the 1880s to make photographs look better but also to slow down the aging of a photograph. Today the process continues as an artistic statement that provides a softer alternative to black and white photography.
