Angles (The Wharf) 1922

Margaret Watkins made this photograph, Angles (The Wharf), with gelatin silver print. It’s so still, the way the boat sits calmly next to the wharf, but it's also unsettling. Watkins has captured the scene from an unusual angle. The silvery tones create a sense of quiet reflection. Look at how the planks of wood create a visual rhythm, almost like musical notes on a page. The texture of the wood contrasts with the smooth surface of the water, giving the image a tactile quality. The eye is drawn to the centre of the image, where the shapes cast a dark pool. It makes me think of a dark abyss. Watkins's background in advertising design shines through with her eye for composition and arrangement. It reminds me of the early abstract photography of Alvin Langdon Coburn, who was also interested in the interplay of light and shadow. Watkins's photograph captures a moment of stillness, inviting us to contemplate the beauty of the everyday.