Untitled (girl at bottom of staircase) c. 1950

Here we have an untitled photograph by Paul Gittings, somewhere in the middle of the last century. It’s a monochrome shot of a young girl at the bottom of a staircase, where the stark contrasts and clear composition draw you right in. The tonal gradations in the image are really beautiful. Note how the light plays across the girl’s form, highlighting the details of her summer romper and the texture of the floorboards. This is achieved by using the physical properties of the materials at hand, the way the light bounces, the camera’s lens, the grade of paper. The lighting isn’t overly dramatic, but it’s carefully controlled to create depth and mood. Look at how the geometry of the staircase contrasts with the softness of the girl’s features and clothing, how this captures a particular moment in time. I think that’s what draws me to it – like the work of Diane Arbus, Gittings is concerned with freezing and framing specific moments in life.