Drie mannen in Volendamse klederdracht zittend op een kade c. 1900 - 1910

G. Hidderley made this small, silver-toned photograph of three men in Volendam, Netherlands, sitting on a dock with fishing boats. I can imagine Hidderley crouching down, setting up their camera, framing the three figures against the masts and sails. They appear to be old salts taking a break from their labor. I wonder if the photographer struck up a conversation before taking the shot, or just pointed and clicked, leaving the men wondering. The surface looks aged and worn, which only adds to the vintage vibe and nostalgic feeling that I’m getting. Maybe Hidderley wanted to capture a moment of everyday life, of the sea and its people, but for me, the picture’s true power lies in its ability to evoke a time long past. It reminds me that photography, like painting, is a way of seeing, thinking, and feeling. Like a painting, it's all about light and shadow, composition and expression. And like painting, photography is an ongoing conversation across time, where artists inspire one another’s creativity.