Marcella Lewis, St. Gabriel, Louisiana 12 - 2000

This portrait of Marcella Lewis from St. Gabriel, Louisiana, was made by Deborah Luster with a photographic plate. Look at how the light moves across Marcella's face, how the photographic plate seems to hold onto it, and how the dark shadows emphasize the light. I wonder what it was like for Luster to take this shot? What were they thinking when they made it? The old-fashioned process gives the image its power, that sepia tone, the delicate lines in the face. It's like the photo is having a conversation with other photos, old tintypes, daguerrotypes, and even paintings. I'm always so impressed by artists who can handle light like that. It’s about really seeing, feeling, and capturing something essential. Each piece is part of a broader conversation across time, inspiring creativity and expression. It is so fascinating to interpret the meanings and possibilities that emerge from the darkroom.