Loodsen van een trammaatschappij in Singapore before 1905

This photograph of tram sheds in Singapore was captured by G.R. Lambert & Co. using what looks like a pretty simple process of light and shadow to define form. What's interesting is how the photograph turns this functional, industrial space into something almost dreamlike. The soft focus and muted tones give it a sense of timelessness. It is a very static image, and yet it speaks to a moment of transition, a time when Singapore was modernizing and embracing new technologies. The sheds themselves, with their repetitive arched roofs, create a rhythm across the frame. It reminds me a little of the industrial landscapes by the Bechers, that forensic approach to image making, but with a warmer, more nostalgic feel. I wonder what it would be like to paint this? The conversation between painting and photography is a fascinating one, both are trying to represent something, but from very different starting points. Ultimately, this photograph encourages us to pause and consider the beauty in the everyday and the stories embedded in the built environment.