Untitled 1993

Thomas Roma made this photograph in silver gelatin, a real classic. Look at the light as it hits the white garments and reflects onto the faces of the children. You can feel the texture of the cloth and the weight of the moment. I imagine Roma, camera in hand, moving through this space, trying to capture the essence of the scene. What was it like to stand in that room? The patience involved in waiting for the perfect alignment of light and shadow, the subtle shifts in expression, and the quiet determination to translate three dimensions onto a flat plane. The image is crowded, but so sensitively composed that it invites you in rather than pushing you away. I think of other photographers, Diane Arbus and Garry Winogrand, who were drawn to capturing everyday life with raw honesty. It’s a testament to the ongoing conversation between artists, each building upon the visions of those who came before.