St. Gabriel, Louisiana 1998 - 2002

Deborah Luster made this photographic plate, St. Gabriel, Louisiana, at an unknown date. It's incredible to look at this image and think about the photographic process. Luster is a storyteller and her images are melancholic. I imagine her setting up the camera, carefully arranging the lighting, and then waiting for her subject to be ready. I bet she had to experiment with the chemicals and exposure times to get it just right; each plate a little different. Her subject has a certain strength and vulnerability, with pale skin and cropped fringe. Her portrait feels very intimate and raw. I’m also drawn to that mark on her neck. It's mysterious and adds another layer to the story. Like other photographers such as Sally Mann, Luster also used an antique process to get her images. I love how artists use this method, connecting past and present to give the image a new meaning and depth. It’s like they're whispering secrets across time.