Militaire ceremonie bij de Yıldız Hamidiyemoskee in Istanbul before 1914

This photograph captures a military ceremony by the Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque in Istanbul, the artists Sébah & Joaillier behind the lens. It's fascinating how the tones play out here, this dance between light and shadow to describe such monumental architecture. The texture of the stone is almost palpable, you can see the way the light catches on every little bump and ridge. And then there's the way the figures are arranged, all those people in their uniforms, lined up like notes on a musical score. It feels like looking at a stage set, everything carefully placed to create this sense of grandeur. I'm drawn to the way the dome of the mosque seems to float above the scene, it's like a giant bubble of air. This piece reminds me a bit of Thomas Demand, he is another artist who loves to explore the boundary between reality and artifice. Art allows us to ask questions rather than provide answers.