Michael Ruth, Angola, Louisiana 17 - 1999

This is a tintype photograph called Michael Ruth, Angola, Louisiana by Deborah Luster. It's a small, intimate object, and the image feels both ghostly and present. There is something about the surface of this image, like an old mirror, that holds light and reflects it back, giving the piece its distinctive sepia tone. Michael stands in a field of cotton, wearing a pale shirt that almost blends with the surrounding landscape. The light is soft, but the details are sharp, capturing the texture of the cotton and the lines of Michael's face. The shadows at his feet pull you into the composition. It's all so beautifully rendered, like a hazy memory. The process that Luster has used to create the image is a really interesting choice, it gives the piece a sense of history and depth. It reminds me of the work of Sally Mann, in the way both artists use photography to explore themes of memory, place, and identity. The image feels heavy with the weight of history, it’s incredibly powerful.