Pagina 133 van fotoboek van de Algemeene Vereeniging van Rubberplanters ter Oostkust van Sumatra (A.V.R.O.S.) c. 1924 - 1925

This photograph by J.W. Meyster is a page from a photo book of the Algemeene Vereeniging van Rubberplanters ter Oostkust van Sumatra, or the General Association of Rubber Planters on the East Coast of Sumatra. I’m imagining Meyster setting up his equipment, framing the image, and patiently waiting for the right light. Maybe he was thinking about the relationship between nature and industry, or the way that humans try to control and manage the environment. The muted tones create a sense of nostalgia. The dam is solid and still, contrasting to the cascading water which looks soft and dynamic. The image prompts us to think about the relationship between stability and flow, control and freedom. This image reminds me of other photographers documenting industrial landscapes, like Bernd and Hilla Becher, who captured the beauty and strangeness of factories and infrastructure. Ultimately, the photograph invites us to consider the human impact on the natural world.