The Round Tower is an historic 17th century building in Copenhagen. Here we see its famous spiraling equestrian ramp, its yellow brick smoothed by centuries of footsteps, horses and carriages. It curves under and around surprisingly modern-looking arches and bright white walls.
How unexpected it is that from behind that large, imposing, even severe wall appears a little girl in a pink skirt. She has run up the ramp and emerged into that large space filled with light. Girl, wall, and ramp all become part of a beautiful sweeping curve in the composition of this photo.
I’ve often felt, as people can, that something unexpected was an annoyance, not an opportunity. That mistake is not made by the photographer. He welcomes the sudden surprising appearance of this little girl. “The essential thing in surprise,” said Eli Siegel, is “newness with speed.” Doesn’t this describe the drama we see here?
—Jaime Torres