North Hinksey Green before 1912

This is a photograph of North Hinksey, made by Henry W. Taunt, though when exactly, I couldn't say. Looking at this, I’m struck by the subtle gradations and contrasts achieved with the limited tonal range of black and white photography. It speaks to a patient, considered way of seeing. It's like when you're mixing a monochrome painting: the physical characteristics of the medium become so important. The texture of the paper, the graininess of the photographic emulsion, the way light interacts with the surface – these things all contribute to the emotional weight of the image. See the way the trees frame the buildings, creating depth. Then, closer to the main structure, the small bridge almost seems to hover. It’s a simple, but profound, way to draw the eye through the picture plane. I'm reminded of Eugène Atget, who, like Taunt, documented a specific time and place with care and precision, creating works which are also documents. There's so much we can learn from looking closely at art, and noticing the many ways artists build meaning.