Bloomsbury 1940 - 1941

Bill Brandt made this photograph, Bloomsbury, with gelatin silver. I love the mood of this image – it feels like a film still, or an illustration from a mysterious novel. A streetlamp dominates the foreground, casting a long shadow that bisects the scene, and behind it, the faint outline of grand buildings lurks in the fog. Brandt, I suspect, was intrigued by light and shadow. The contrast here is amazing: the imposing dark mass of the building on the left, then the stark, white streak of light reflected off of the wet road. He's clearly playing with tonal range, with the subtle greys, and this sharp contrast gives the image a real energy. I imagine Brandt walking those streets, seeking out those ephemeral moments of light and drama and he made this everyday urban scene feel like an uncanny dreamscape.