Vogel 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this photograph, Vogel, at an unknown date, but I can tell you what I see. It’s all about texture, isn't it? Look at the way the moss clings to the bark, each tiny frond a little stroke of dark and light. The bird, perched on the edge of its nest, is almost a blur. It is as if Tepe wants us to feel the immediacy of the moment, the bird's quick darting motion. The contrast between the sharp focus of the nest and the soft blur of the bird creates a sense of depth, drawing us into the secret world of the forest. There is a quiet poetry in the way Tepe captures this moment, a feeling of stillness and anticipation. It reminds me of the work of Karl Blossfeldt, who also found beauty in the minute details of the natural world. Like Blossfeldt, Tepe invites us to see the world with new eyes, to appreciate the hidden wonders that surround us.