AMN Jonathan Antonio "Jake" Yelner 2014

Binh Danh made this haunting photograph, AMN Jonathan Antonio "Jake" Yelner, using an old process. It’s all about light, chemistry, and time. The image is an inversion of tone. Light areas appear dark and dark areas light. It’s like a ghost of a memory, isn't it? Look at the rough edges of the wooden cross, how the paint is worn and faded. The artist has captured not just a physical place, but a feeling of loss and remembrance. It is somber. The reversed text is a struggle to read, like trying to recall a name on the tip of your tongue. This process reminds me of the work of someone like Christian Boltanski, who also used photography and found objects to explore themes of memory. There is beauty in the decay.