Portret van Stanley Udale 1898 - 1915

This is Frederick H. Evans' photograph of Stanley Udale, and like any portrait, it's a collaborative act between artist and sitter. Look at how Evans coaxes light to describe form; it's almost painterly. The tonal range is narrow, but within that, the shades build up a tangible presence. The soft focus and the way the light catches the subject's hair makes me think about how much control a photographer has, and how much they have to surrender to chance. There’s this quiet drama that comes from embracing the unpredictable, like in the highlights around the face, which aren't sharp but soft, like a memory. Evans isn't about capturing a perfect likeness. He’s after something more atmospheric, more soulful. Think of Julia Margaret Cameron, who embraced the accidental, the out-of-focus. Evans is part of that conversation, where the imperfections become the point.