Twee jonge wespendieven in park het Loo in Apeldoorn 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this photograph of two young honey buzzards in Apeldoorn, using gelatin silver print. The photo is all about texture, like the way you can almost feel the rough bark of the tree, the downy feathers of the birds, and the tangled mess of twigs and leaves in their nest. It's like Tepe dove right into the thick of it, getting up close and personal with his subjects. I’m drawn to the stark contrast between the sharp details of the birds' faces and the soft blur of the background. It reminds me of some of the early nature photographers who were trying to capture the raw, untamed beauty of the natural world. Think of someone like Karl Blossfeldt, who photographed plants with such incredible detail that they became almost abstract. Tepe has that same eye for detail, but he's also got a sense of immediacy that makes you feel like you're right there in the park with him, spying on these little creatures. It’s beautiful, in its own way.