Britse soldaten voeren een aanval uit op een heuvel in Norvalspont 1901

This stereo card shows British soldiers charging up a hill in Norvalspont. It was probably made with a large format camera. Can you imagine the labor involved? What might the photographer have been thinking, lugging all that heavy equipment around a battlefield? Maybe they saw themselves as a recorder of history, or maybe they were just trying to make a living, one exposure at a time. I’m struck by the details: the way the light catches on the soldiers' helmets, or the texture of the rocky terrain. Each of these elements adds to the overall feeling of tension and uncertainty. I am reminded of the work of war photographer Robert Capa, who got up close and personal, but this image feels more distant, more posed. Ultimately, this image is a reminder that artists are always building on the work of those who came before them, borrowing ideas, techniques, and inspiration. We can only hope to create something meaningful that speaks to others, and that keeps the conversation going.