Eugen Wachenheimer in het uniform van de Duitse marine, Istanbul, 1914-1919 1914 - 1919

This small photograph captures Eugen Wachenheimer in the uniform of the German Navy, and it was taken in Istanbul sometime between 1914 and 1919. It's by an anonymous photographer. What I find myself wondering about is the act of choosing to pose, thinking about how to present oneself to the camera. What was the mood in the room? How did the subject feel? There is a particular intimacy to portraiture, and a sort of alchemy occurs between the sitter and the photographer. The sepia tones and the formality of the subject’s uniform give the image a historical gravity, reminding us of the past, and the relationship between Germany and Turkey during World War I. Anonymous photographs are often so compelling because they invite us to imagine the lives and stories of the subjects, and the hands through which the photograph has passed. Photography has always been about capturing something of life. I'm always inspired by the ingenuity and vision of artists and image makers, who find beauty in capturing the complexity of the world around us.