Untitled (photograph of Gittings photo: "The Stubborn Tress") c. 1970

This photograph by Paul Gittings is an image of an earlier Gittings photo, "The Stubborn Tress". The sepia tones are so warm, it is hard to tell where the figure ends and the background begins, blurring the distinction between the subject and the surrounding space, like a memory. There's a softness to the image, both in the way the light drapes across the figure's body and in the slightly blurred edges, giving it an intimate, dreamlike quality. Look at the subject's raised arm and hand, it's as though they are caught in a moment of contemplation or self-discovery. The tonal variations are so gentle that the photo seems to glow from within, creating a sense of depth and volume. It's like stepping into a room where time slows down and whispers secrets, not unlike the way a painting by Gerhard Richter might conjure a mood through soft focus and muted tones.