Yokohama temple before 1908

Geldolph Adriaan Kessler made this photograph of a temple in Yokohama, we're not sure exactly when. The monochromatic palette allows us to really focus on the forms and textures within the image. I find myself thinking about the process of photography itself. The water in the foreground is quite still, yet you can see ripples, tiny marks and gestures, all of which create a sense of depth. The stone wall that separates the water from the temple is fascinating. Each stone has its own shape and texture, and the way they're stacked together creates a solid barrier. There is a ladder leading from the water up to the temple. It seems to suggest a transition from one world to another, from the mundane to the spiritual. This photograph reminds me of the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, who documented industrial structures with such precision and care. Like them, Kessler shows us the beauty in the everyday, the extraordinary in the ordinary.