Yolanda Banks, St. Gabriel, Louisiana 27 - 2000

Deborah Luster made this tintype photograph of Yolanda Banks in St. Gabriel, Louisiana. There’s something so old-timey and immediate about the tintype process. The dark background, like a void, throws Yolanda into sharp relief. Her face, turned down, is soft but the blindfold suggests something about justice, or maybe insight. Look how Luster coaxed so many tones out of the plate: the warm creaminess of the robe contrasts with the duller grey of the scarf, while the figure's skin has a warm, reflective quality. The details are remarkable. The tintype, like memory, is a fragile thing. It's about bearing witness, and Luster's work, in its directness and simplicity, honors the subject. You know, I’m reminded a bit of Dawoud Bey's street portraits. Both artists share a deep respect for their subjects and the power of the photographic portrait. It's a conversation about seeing and being seen.