"Voo," Angola, Louisiana 22 - 1999

Deborah Luster made "Voo," in Angola, Louisiana using the 19th-century process of tintype photography. The tintype is created by coating a metal plate with a light-sensitive emulsion. Luster’s choice of this antique technique is crucial. The resulting image is unique, direct, and slightly unpredictable – a far cry from the slick perfection of digital photography. The almost sepia-toned effect gives the image a feeling of historical weight, appropriate given that Angola is the site of a former plantation, now a prison. The tintype process also inflects the way we consider labor. It suggests a slower, more deliberate pace, akin to craft. In contrast to mass production, each plate carries the marks of the artist's hand and the chemical processes involved. This imbues the portrait with a sense of dignity and individuality, a powerful statement in a place defined by confinement and control. The choice of materials and processes speaks volumes, inviting us to look beyond the surface and consider the social and historical context in which this image was made.