Broedende sternen

Richard Tepe made this small photograph, Broedende Sternen, of nesting terns sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. I love the monochromatic palette, like a memory faded to sepia. You can almost feel Tepe crouching low, trying not to disturb these birds. Look at the texture in the grass, the way the light catches the tips of the blades. The tones are so subtle, it's easy to miss the birds themselves, camouflaged in their habitat. But then you notice one, perfectly still, head tucked. It’s a beautiful study in observation. This reminds me a little of the painter, Gerhard Richter, and how he uses photography as source material. But where Richter blurs and abstracts, Tepe captures a moment of quiet intimacy. It’s a reminder that art isn't just about grand statements, it's about how we see and share the world around us.