Isaac David Bella, Transylvania, Louisiana 1999

Deborah Luster's 1999 photograph "Isaac David Bella, Transylvania, Louisiana" is a portrait of a young man standing against a dark backdrop. The image is part of Luster's ongoing series "A Southern Family," which explores the lives of the Bella family in rural Louisiana through intimate and candid portraits. Luster’s work often examines the intersection of race, class, and identity in the American South. The photograph's simple composition and muted tones create a sense of quiet intimacy, drawing the viewer into the subject's world. "Isaac David Bella, Transylvania, Louisiana" exemplifies Luster's sensitive and powerful approach to documentary photography.