Staande militairen 1940 - 1943

This mounted photograph shows a couple of Dutch military police officers standing at attention, snapped by an anonymous photographer. I wonder what it was like to take pictures before the digital age? I imagine our photographer standing behind the camera adjusting the focus. Did they ask the policemen to pose, or was it a candid shot? Think about the technical aspects of photography. The lighting, the exposure, the dark room. Every decision shapes the final image. The black and white tones emphasize the uniformity of the officers' attire. The crispness of the image shows the care taken in its creation. Photography is a conversation with other artists, all contributing to how we see. Each picture builds upon the last. It's a form of expression, capturing fleeting moments and making them permanent. Photos allow for multiple takes and interpretations, and in this way offer a window into the past.