Jenar Jury, St. Gabriel, Louisiana 15 - 2000

Deborah Luster made this photograph, *Jenar Jury, St. Gabriel, Louisiana*, using the 19th-century photographic process, called the tintype. The sepia-toned image radiates light that pools in certain areas. I am drawn to the way Jenar Jury's hands are clasped, each finger a slender line. The body is turned slightly inward as though she is patiently waiting and staring. The overall effect is quite painterly. I imagine Luster in her studio, mixing chemicals, adjusting the lighting, and carefully preparing the plate, all with great care, and a lot of trial and error! It’s difficult and time-consuming, and definitely part of the final image. What does the tintype do for us that a digital photograph doesn't? It reminds us that all images are constructed. It reminds us of the relationship between the past and the present. It has an alchemy about it. The sepia tone feels like a portal into another world.