Ray Hagen 1992

Nancy Andrews made this photograph of Ray Hagen, and the smoke looks like it was painted in the dark, a single source of light illuminating the slow burn of a cigarette. The photo captures a performative moment, a space of reflection or even a kind of private ritual. The photograph’s stark contrast and velvety blacks, the way the smoke curls and twists, it all feels tactile, like you could reach out and touch it. It's a testament to the way black and white photography can create something that is both a document and a feeling. Look at the way the light catches the planes of the face, leaving so much in shadow, there's a cinematic quality to the scene. Andrews here reminds me a little of Lisette Model, with that same unflinching gaze and the ability to find beauty and intrigue in the everyday. It's a reminder that art isn't about perfect representation, but about capturing a feeling, a mood, a moment in time.