Ludwig Pietsch 1911

This photograph of Ludwig Pietsch was taken by Nicola Perscheid. I imagine Perscheid had a heavy camera on a tripod, draped in black cloth, adjusting the focus, hoping to capture something true. The soft greyscale tones create a really interesting surface, like a painting in shades of grey. It is somber, in a way, but I also notice a kind of quiet dignity. I wonder what Pietsch was thinking at the time. Was he asked to sit still and look serious, or was it his natural demeanor? Maybe Perscheid tried to capture a sense of his inner life, his thoughts and feelings, through the play of light and shadow. I wonder how Perscheid made his living. Did people line up to have their picture taken? Were there other photographers doing similar work? It is so different from today, when everyone has a camera in their pocket. These old photos are like paintings to me, a kind of art form. They remind us that we're all connected, that we're all part of the same human story.