Tak met bloesem van een sierappelboom c. 1900 - 1930

Richard Tepe made this photograph, *Tak met bloesem van een sierappelboom*, and I see a kind of poetry in its careful, almost meditative approach to capturing a fleeting moment in nature. The monochromatic palette gives it this timeless quality, as if it could have been taken yesterday or a hundred years ago. Looking at this image, I’m drawn to the way the light catches the delicate petals and leaves. There's a soft, almost velvety texture that Tepe has managed to capture, particularly in the way the light fades across the leaves. It reminds me how photography, like painting, is about capturing light and shadow to create depth and form. I love how Tepe uses these shades of grey to define each petal and leaf. This image reminds me of the work of Karl Blossfeldt, who similarly focused on capturing the intricate beauty of plants. But where Blossfeldt's images are often stark and scientific, Tepe's has a softer, more romantic feel. To me, it’s like a visual poem, celebrating the quiet beauty of the natural world.