Ruïnes van de tempel van Kom Ombo before 1862

This photograph, Ruïnes van de tempel van Kom Ombo, was taken by Francis Frith in the 19th century. The image is striking for its use of vertical space to capture the monumental ruins. The composition is divided into two identical parts which creates a symmetry that draws the eye upwards, emphasizing the height of the ancient structures. Frith uses the stereoscopic method to offer a dual perspective of the ruins. This effect is more than just a technical trick. It plays with the viewer's perception, inviting us to consider the subject from multiple angles simultaneously. This approach destabilizes a single, fixed viewpoint, thereby questioning traditional representations of historical sites. The photograph, with its emphasis on form and structure, invites us to contemplate not only the grandeur of ancient architecture, but also the ways in which our understanding of the past is constructed through visual media.