Sorteren van de geplukte koffiebessen 1900 - 1935

This photograph "Sorteren van de geplukte koffiebessen" or "Sorting the picked coffee beans" was taken by Neville Keasberry in Java. Looking at the image, I imagine Keasberry setting up his stereoscopic camera amidst the rhythmic activity of the workers, trying to find the right angle. What might he have been thinking as he framed this image? The composition is amazing. See how it captures the collective effort and individual stories within this scene of labor? I can almost feel the heat of the sun, the repetitive motion of sorting, the quiet murmur of voices. The light is modulated and dappled, creating a dance between light and shadow that mirrors the textures of the beans themselves. It’s this play of light that animates the surface. Like a painter layering brushstrokes, Keasberry uses the camera to explore themes of community, labor, and landscape. He’s not just documenting; he's interpreting. I am so curious to find out about his wider practice and body of work.