Colombo, 2006, in Gas Works Street Possibly 2006 - 2014

This gelatin silver print, "Colombo, 2006, in Gas Works Street," was made by Leo Rubinfien, and the tonality is so carefully observed. It's a dance of light and dark where no area is left untouched. Look at the way the light sculpts the man’s face. You can almost feel the texture of his skin, the history etched into every line and wrinkle. It reminds me of those old master drawings where the artist coaxes form out of the page with just the subtle application of shadow. The background is blurred, giving a feeling of a fleeting moment captured, yet the details in the man’s face are so sharp. The focus draws me into his eyes, asking what story he has to tell. It’s a very human moment, full of dignity and grace, like some of the work of someone like Irving Penn perhaps, where a simple portrait becomes a window into a whole world. I think it’s a beautiful example of how photography can be so much more than just a record of reality.