Elephants with Trainer, Circus, New York 1936

Ilse Bing took this photograph, 'Elephants with Trainer, Circus, New York’, sometime in the 20th century. It's all in silvery-greys and blacks, capturing a moment in time. Imagine Bing there with her camera. What was she thinking? I like how she's focused on the backsides of these massive elephants, their wrinkly skin, and their sturdy legs planted on the ground. They're the stars of the show, but there’s a sadness in their stillness. I’ve always tried to capture a moment, a feeling, in my own work. Bing does this so effortlessly, inviting us to consider the world from a different angle. You can sense the weight of the elephants, the dust in the air, the anticipation of the crowd. It reminds us that art is all about seeing, feeling, and sharing those moments with each other. We’re always learning from the artists who came before, like a big conversation across time.