Untitled 1993

Here is a black and white photograph by Thomas Roma, who was born in 1950. Looking at this image of two women kneeling, heads bowed, there's such a sense of interiority. I’m thinking about the quiet focus of the photographer, Roma, as he finds this moment of reflection. I can imagine him, camera in hand, almost holding his breath, waiting to capture something so sincere. The light is soft, almost reverent, emphasizing the texture of their clothes and the subtle patterns. There's a quiet dialogue happening between the figures—the curve of their backs, the way their hands rest. You can feel the weight of their thoughts. The soft gradations of light and shadow feel almost painterly, don't they? It reminds me of the work of other photographers interested in capturing fleeting moments of human emotion like Roy DeCarava. This photo, like a great painting, invites you into a space of empathy and reflection.