Stormpark Fort de Kock in Bukittinggi 1891 - 1912

This photograph, Stormpark Fort de Kock in Bukittinggi, was captured by Christiaan Benjamin Nieuwenhuis. Just imagine him, standing there, composing the scene in his viewfinder. Look how the landscape unfolds with a certain stillness, layers of atmosphere softened by the photographic process. It makes me think about how Nieuwenhuis might have perceived this place, what he chose to frame, and how the light shaped his vision. The mountain looms large, silent and monumental. Is it calm or is it about to blow? I wonder what it was like to be there at that moment, the air, the sounds, the sheer presence of the mountain. I can imagine Nieuwenhuis contemplating the scene, seeking to capture not just the visual but also the essence of the place, its quiet grandeur. We are all just trying to capture something intangible and hold on to it.