Tokyo entrance to imperial palace. before 1908

This photograph of the Tokyo entrance to the imperial palace was taken by Geldolph Adriaan Kessler. You can see the image is built up of many different shades of grey. I imagine the photographer, Kessler, carefully selecting this composition; he wanted to show the entrance to the palace with its stately buildings and lush greenery beyond. I wonder if he chose this moment specifically for the figures walking along the path. I imagine him waiting patiently for them to come into view to animate the still scene. There’s something about how the tones blend together that create a sense of harmony and balance in the composition. This reminds me of other photographers such as Eugène Atget and his studies of Paris. Photography, like painting, is an ongoing conversation, with each artist building upon the work of those who came before, exchanging ideas and inspiring new ways of seeing.