Florida 2016

This photograph, titled Florida, comes to us from Richard Ross. Look at the material aspects of this photograph. The flatness of the light emphasizes the institutional setting, and the man’s orange jumpsuit stands out against a palette of cold whites and blues. The bars on the window create a grid, a visual pattern that imprisons both the subject and the viewer, highlighting the power dynamics at play. The guard in the background is blurred, but the man in the foreground is sharp. Look at his eyes, how they meet ours. This directs our gaze and creates a connection between subject and viewer. Ross brings to mind other socially conscious photographers, such as Gordon Parks or Dorothea Lange. His work, like theirs, reminds us that art can be a powerful tool for raising awareness and sparking social change.