Gezicht op het Singel in Amsterdam 1904

Here's Gezicht op het Singel in Amsterdam by James Higson. It’s a sepia photograph, so the whole scene’s bathed in warm browns. I’m thinking about the quiet observation, waiting for that perfect moment to capture it. I imagine Higson there, with his camera, composing the scene. Look at the stillness of the water, reflecting the buildings. What's interesting here is this isn't a painting at all. What I do find in common is the act of editing. I could crop this image in 100 different ways to change its meaning. It reminds me of the work of someone like Atget. The photograph feels historical, romantic even, but also very real. Like I could step right into it. It makes me think about how we see and record our world. It seems like all image making are in a constant conversation across different mediums.