Joseph Gasparetti’s Baptism, Martins Creek 1979

Curator: Larry Fink's black and white photograph, Joseph Gasparetti’s Baptism, Martins Creek, captures a young boy in a moment of solemnity. Editor: The light feels like confession, doesn't it? That harsh flash exposing something...vulnerable. Curator: Fink's use of flash, often associated with social documentary, is fascinating here. It disrupts the traditional sacredness often tied to baptism. We're seeing the raw materiality of the event. Editor: It's so immediate. Look at his hands, almost gripping each other. Is that anxiety? Or anticipation? It feels like a rite of passage, almost against his will. Curator: The composition places him against the doorway and the dark interior, emphasizing the threshold he's crossing. Fink’s work frequently blurs lines between private and public. Editor: Right. Baptism: a public display of a private belief. It's like he's caught between worlds. So good. Curator: Absolutely. The image encourages a deeper questioning of social rituals. Editor: I'm going to be thinking about this boy all day.