Pelgrimskamp in Mina bij Mekka tijdens de Hadj 1889

This photograph by Abd al-Ghaffar captures the pilgrim camp in Mina near Mecca. The photographic process itself is key here. Each print required careful work in the darkroom, controlling light and chemicals to render a scene like this in tones of grey. Look at the sheer scale of this temporary city. Countless tents, presumably made of woven fabric stretched over simple frames, fill the landscape, evidence of tremendous labor. Consider the logistics involved in providing shelter for so many, and all that is required for the pilgrims to perform the Hajj. Photography in this era was a powerful tool, able to document and disseminate images of far-flung places. Here, the very materiality of the photograph becomes a testament to the modern impulse to catalogue and understand the world, yet also a witness to an ancient religious tradition. By focusing on the making of images, we can better understand their cultural significance.