Riverbed [The Two Nkééngé Sisters] 2018

Pieter Henket made this photograph, Riverbed [The Two Nkééngé Sisters], at an unknown date. What strikes me is its stillness; the way the composition balances the dark, dense forest with the open, flowing water. The texture of the scene is palpable. You can almost feel the cool water and the roughness of the riverbed. The darks are so deep and luscious, contrasted against the pale dress of the figure, it feels like a Caravaggio painting, all drama and light. And look at how the light catches those small petals, suspended in the air like little prayers. They draw your eye and create a sense of enchantment, a moment caught between worlds. This photograph reminds me of Gregory Crewdson's staged realities, those hyper-real, dreamlike images that linger in your mind. But here, there’s something more raw, more connected to the earth, a quiet magic that whispers of untold stories. It embraces ambiguity, offering us a space to dream, to wonder, and to connect with the unknown.