Brian Jackson, "Lil Collins," Transylvania, Louisiana 1999

"Lil Collins" is a 1999 portrait by Deborah Luster depicting Brian Jackson in Transylvania, Louisiana. Luster, known for her black and white portraits, captures Jackson in a casual, yet dignified pose. The image is printed on a tintype, a direct-positive photographic process, and the image is framed in a slightly worn, rectangular, silver surface. The use of tintype evokes a sense of history, recalling 19th-century photographic techniques, and adding a layer of timelessness to the image. This work is part of Luster's larger project documenting rural African-American communities in the South, using a historical photographic style to present contemporary subjects.