Colorado 2010

Richard Ross made this photograph called Colorado; it's hard to say exactly when. There's something about this image - its formal composition - that makes it so striking. The subjects are arranged in a tight group, the perspective is clear. Ross is making a statement, or rather asking a question. How do we see these young men standing in their yellow suits in a bare, white room? What happens when we look at the image? How are we implicated in the act of looking and knowing? I can imagine Ross thinking about the power dynamics at play, between the photographer and the subject, between the viewer and the viewed. The image resonates with the work of other artists who explore the intersection of power, representation, and social justice. I think of Dawoud Bey, for instance, and his portraits of young people. Ultimately, this photograph serves as a mirror, reflecting back our own assumptions and biases, while simultaneously challenging us to see beyond the surface and engage with the complex realities of the criminal justice system.