Rose Pastor Stokes 1909

Clarence H. White made this photograph of Rose Pastor Stokes sometime in the early 20th century, using what looks like a platinum print. It's just so atmospheric! Look at the way the light and shadow play across the surface, creating this sort of hazy, dreamlike effect. You can almost feel the cool, damp air coming off the ocean. I'm really drawn to the way White has captured the texture of the rocks and the movement of the water. Notice how he uses soft focus to blur the lines between the figure and the landscape, making Rose feel like she's almost melting into her surroundings. The way the light catches her hair and the folds of her dress is just gorgeous. This image feels so timeless to me, like it could have been taken yesterday or a hundred years ago. It reminds me of the work of Julia Margaret Cameron, another photographer who was interested in capturing the beauty and mystery of the human form. Art really is just one long conversation.