Gezicht op de hoofdingang van Tanjong Pagar Dock Co. Ltd. in Singapore vanuit het Boustead Institute before 1905

This photographic print shows the main entrance of Tanjong Pagar Dock Co. Ltd. in Singapore, as seen from the Boustead Institute. I like to imagine what it might have been like to witness this moment in time. The photographer, G.R. Lambert & Co., is perched up high, maybe in a special spot they found, or made. The sepia tone gives the whole scene a warm glow, like the memory of a hot day. The light is fascinating. It’s not just about documenting a place, but capturing the mood, the energy of the port. The dust and smoke add a sense of immediacy, a feeling of being right there, amidst the hustle and bustle. I wonder what Lambert & Co. were thinking about as they composed this image. Were they aware that they were participating in the ongoing dance of picture-making? It's an image that freezes time, like a painting, and, like a painting, prompts countless readings.