Breath 2016

This black and white photograph of a horse in a field with bare trees, by Alfred Freddy Krupa, is so atmospheric. You can almost feel the cold, damp air. I imagine Krupa outside, perhaps in early morning, patiently waiting for the right moment. I can see him framing the shot, making a decision to capture the steamy breath of the horse against the stark landscape. It reminds me of Gerhard Richter's landscapes, how they capture the fleeting moment. The light is so soft, it almost flattens the scene, but then the strong vertical line appears, piercing through the mist. What a moment to capture! It’s a reminder that photography, like painting, is about being open to the unexpected. It's all about embracing what happens. I bet Krupa wasn’t expecting that line of light, but he saw it, he responded to it, and incorporated it into his vision. It's this kind of exchange that keeps the conversation between artists alive across time.