Twee jonge kraaien op hun nest 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this small photograph of two young crows in their nest sometime in the early 20th century. It's a study in monochrome, a symphony of grays and blacks where texture does all the talking. The nest itself is a wild scribble of twigs, a mass of tangled lines against the smooth, dark plumage of the birds. Look at the bark of the tree too; it's gnarled and rough, a sharp contrast with the fluffy down of the chicks. I find the way Tepe captures the gaze of the crow in the foreground particularly striking. It’s so direct; the bird seems to be staring right at you, daring you to come closer. The photograph reminds me a little of some of Alfred Stieglitz's early work, with its emphasis on natural forms and its sharp, almost brutal clarity. But where Stieglitz often sought to elevate photography to the level of fine art, Tepe seems more interested in simply capturing a moment, a fleeting glimpse into the life of these creatures. It’s a modest picture, but full of life and energy.