Katholieke processie te Kevelaer c. 1907 - 1915

Hubert Koch made this photograph of a Catholic procession in Kevelaer. Look at the sepia tones, how everything seems to blend together, it's a reminder that photography is as much about seeing as it is about feeling. There's a rhythm here, a kind of solemn march created by the repeated dark forms of the figures and banners. It's a study in light and shadow. Look how the light catches the edges of the banners, giving them a ghostly glow. The cobblestone street, a blur of greys, adds to the sense of movement, like a river carrying the procession forward. It reminds me of some of the early street photography of Eugène Atget, who captured everyday life in Paris with a similar sense of quiet observation. Art is always a conversation, isn't it? A way of seeing the world, and then sharing that vision with others.