Untitled (woman kneeling down to adjust bride's train) after 1940

Paul Gittings made this black and white photograph of a woman adjusting a bride's train; it's a study in light and shadow. Look at the darks and the lights here, the way the folds in the dress create these dramatic shadows. It reminds me of working on a painting, building up layers, adding depth. The texture is so important. The grainy quality of the photograph adds to the sense of history, of something captured and preserved. The way the light catches the fabric, especially the veil, feels ephemeral, like a fleeting moment. It's interesting that Gittings chose to focus on this detail. The image tells a story about the labor and care that goes into creating a perfect image, a perfect day. It’s like a dance between the two figures, the bride and the woman kneeling, connected through the fabric. Gittings' work feels connected to the work of Irving Penn, especially in the way he uses light and shadow to create mood. There's a quietness here, a sense of dignity and grace. Art is about these conversations, these echoes across time.