['Bird Island (near Port Elizabeth)-The lighthouse', 'Cape Town-The town hall'] before 1880

These photographs by Sam Alexander capture scenes from Bird Island and Cape Town with a formal emphasis on structure and light. The contrasting textures of the rocky foreground in ‘Bird Island’ against the smooth, distant lighthouse immediately draws the eye. The composition divides the scene into distinct horizontal layers, creating a sense of depth. The photograph of Cape Town's town hall focuses on architectural symmetry and form, with the building's facade presented frontally. The regular rhythm of the columns and windows offers a study in balance and order. These images, like many photographs from the era, engage with ideas of representation and documentation. Each photograph presents a constructed view of its subject, filtered through the photographer's lens and choices. They invite us to consider how such images shape our understanding of place and history. The formal qualities become tools for presenting particular narratives.