New Hinksey, from Jacob's Ladder before 1912

This is New Hinksey, from Jacob's Ladder by Henry W. Taunt. I'm immediately drawn to how the image, though a photograph, echoes the compositional elements of a painting. Look at how the linear perspective of the road draws your eye into the scene, similar to how a painter might use line to create depth. The monochromatic palette simplifies the landscape, emphasizing the textures and forms. The dark trees contrast against the lighter sky, a play of values that feels very painterly. I'm fascinated by how photography, like painting, captures a specific moment, yet hints at something timeless. You can almost feel the stillness of the scene, the quiet that precedes change. Think of Atget, another photographer who seemed to almost be painting with light. Both artists remind us that art is about seeing, and how we make our own worlds through the lens, or the brush.