San Ildefonso Pueblo Indians, New Mexico 1941

This photograph of San Ildefonso Pueblo Indians in New Mexico was captured by Alma Lavenson. I imagine Lavenson setting up her camera, probably a large format, choosing her viewpoint with care, and waiting patiently for the right moment. Look at the way the light falls so gently. It must have been a meditative process. Her choice of black and white makes the image so evocative. It somehow softens the photograph, but it also sharpens it, making you focus on the emotion in the sitters' faces and the way the rough texture of the wooden beam contrasts with the smoothness of the wall behind. Think about the way she frames them, creating a sense of intimacy. Lavenson’s composition reminds me of other photographers of the time such as Dorothea Lange and her portraits of people during the Great Depression. Ultimately, all artists inspire one another’s creativity.