Hi Allen, Many photographs stand out as images that define an era by capturing a certain mood or using imagery that is unique to the time period it was TAKEN. The portion "it was taken" is an example of a reduced relative clause. As you rightly pointed out, the original relative clause is: "which it was taken". A relative clause can be reduced by eliminating the relative pronoun provided it is in the object form. In turn, a relative clause is in the object form if it is not followed by a verb. Example: The boy whom we (pronoun, not verb) scolded was innocent. {relative clause} The boy we scolded was innocent {reduced relative clause} In your sentence: Many photographs stand out as images that define an era by capturing a certain mood or using imagery that is unique to the time period which it (pronoun, not verb) was taken. {Relative clause} Many photographs stand out as images that define an era by capturing a certain mood or using imagery that is unique to the time period it was taken. {Reduced relative clause} On the contrary, if the relative pronoun is before a verb, it is considered in the subject case. In this case, it is grammatically wrong to eliminate the relative pronoun and still preserve its meaning. Example: I gave him a book which is (verb) written by a famous author. {Relative clause; correct} I have him a book is written by a famous author. {Wrong} Hope this helps. Cheers, Lance

"Many photographs stand out as images that define an era by capturing a certain mood or using imagery that is unique to the time period it was take. " 1. ... it was taken. 2. We need to ask what the word "it" refers to. It can not refer to either the time period, or imagery, or certain mood, or even photographs since the word "photographs" is in the plural number. Therefore, one of the grammatically correct ways of stating this would be... they were taken. So you might want to rephrase the initial sentence to something like: "Many photographs stand out as images that define an era by capturing a certain mood or using imagery that is unique to the time period during which they were taken". or by omitting "during which" "Many photographs stand out as images that define an era by capturing a certain mood or using imagery that is unique to the time period they were taken". Hope this helps. :-)

I would say that sentence is not correct. It should be one of two things: 1 .. the time period it was taken in 2. ... the time period in which it was taken.