Schepen in een dok van de Tanjong Pagar Dock Co. Ltd. in Singapore met eromheen personeel before 1905

This photograph by G.R. Lambert & Co. captures the bustling scene of ships in a dry dock at Tanjong Pagar in Singapore, surrounded by a crowd of workers. I can only imagine the scene itself, the labor and collective effort of the crowd, the masts and rigging of the great ships and how all of these elements come together in a still moment. Maybe the photographer wanted to capture not just the ships, but also the energy and effort of the workers who kept the port alive. There is a certain harmony that the photographer is trying to capture in the moment. It's fascinating to think about how each of those workers had a story, a life, and a role to play in the functioning of this maritime hub. The photographer is almost like a visual historian, documenting not just the ships and the docks, but also the human element that made it all possible.