Gezicht op de Elbe met een zeilboot before 1903

H. Ringel made this small photograph of a sailboat on the Elbe. It’s printed here in an old book of photographs. What strikes me most is how Ringel uses the tones to create a sense of depth and atmosphere, that feeling of water moving and light shifting on the surface. Look closely, and you can see how the dark, almost inky blacks of the boat contrast with the hazy grays of the water and sky. It's as if Ringel is playing with the way light interacts with the water, creating a shimmering effect that feels almost dreamlike. There’s a strong sense of place. The composition, with the boat slightly off-center, makes the image feel dynamic and alive. I'm reminded of the work of Alfred Stieglitz and other early photographers who used the medium to explore the expressive possibilities of light and shadow. The way Ringel captures the mood of the Elbe, suggests a shared interest in the emotional potential of photography. It’s about capturing a moment, an essence, rather than a perfect image.