The photo in question is an example of Alfred Stieglitz’s working ability and his desire to achieve a positive result at any cost. The snapshot taken in 1893 is known to the whole world as the outcome of a long and painstaking wait, and due to the efforts made, the master managed to achieve the desired effect. From the point of view of the photo’s overall plan, the image is certainly cropped because its scale implies the presence of additional parts at the edges.
Stieglitz probably resorted to this technique intentionally to focus viewers’ attention on a specific object, in particular, a horse-drawn carriage. Also, geometrically, the prospect of the street looks successful enough, and unnecessary objects on the sides would violate the integrity of the entire scene.
A hand camera used when shooting allowed the photographer to get to a dynamic object as close as possible, which was not a typical technique for that time. His attempts to make his works lively and look like pictures rather than written canvases were realized, and Stieglitz’s heritage proves the talent of the master and his innovative ideas. For example, the decision to wait for a carriage despite a blizzard testifies to the persistence of the photographer and his devotion to the beloved work.
At the same time, skillful control over a hand camera was the outcome of long and tedious workouts. As a result, the winter landscape on Fifth Avenue became one of the greatest photographs of the 19th century when this art was not common, and few could afford special instruments for shooting. Thus, Stieglitz’s talent allowed him to revive static images and make them dynamic.