Tak van een spierstruik in bloei c. 1900 - 1930

This photograph, “Tak van een spierstruik in bloei” (Branch of a Spirea in Bloom) was made by Richard Tepe, sometime between 1864 and 1952. I love the way Tepe captured the fleeting beauty of the spirea's blossoms. It’s as if time is suspended. You know, the camera can do that. It can hold a moment still, so we can really look. I imagine him carefully composing the shot. Did he wait for the perfect light, or a gentle breeze to settle? And then click, the photograph appears, bringing out all the subtle textures of the petals. The muted palette gives the work a timeless quality. It's a serene and intimate glimpse into the natural world. A painter friend of mine, Lois Dodd, did similar things with her camera, it's like plein air painting, but with light. It’s a reminder of the beauty that exists all around us, if only we take a moment to notice.