Man en vrouw in de botanische tuin van Bogor, Kebun Raya Bogor 1902

This photograph of a man and woman in the botanic gardens of Bogor, in what was then Buitenzorg, Java, was made by Carleton Harlow Graves, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The image is a study in tonality, light and shadow, a reminder that artmaking is always a process of selection, of making choices. The silvery gelatin print gives a tactile sense of the light in this tropical landscape. Look closely, and you’ll see how the light glints off the surface of the water, creating tiny white highlights that contrast with the dark shadows of the trees. The contrast between light and dark is repeated throughout the image, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. The way Graves uses light is reminiscent of the work of some of the early Impressionists. Like them, he’s interested in capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere, in suggesting the feeling of a particular place and time. Ultimately, this photograph is an invitation to see the world in a new way, to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the everyday.