Angola, Louisiana 31 - 1999

Deborah Luster created this dreamy, otherworldly photograph, Angola, Louisiana, using the 19th-century technique of the tintype. In this process, the image emerges not through darkroom magic but alchemical transformation, a bit like painting, really, in the way something new and unique arises. The subject's got this classic cowboy hat and a bold striped shirt, standing against a dark background. I imagine Luster setting up her equipment, maybe feeling the humidity of Louisiana, carefully preparing each plate, knowing each would be unique. I’m drawn to the way the sitter’s tattoos ‘power’ and ‘lord’ become part of the print, making me think about what he values. This feels intimate, as though we're getting a glimpse into a world both rough and sacred. Luster's tintypes remind us how artists can transform and elevate, pulling something beautiful and poignant from the forgotten corners.