NORTHERN IRELAND. Belfast. Summer evening. 1989

Gilles Peress made this photograph in Belfast, using a camera and black and white film. This medium gives the image a documentary feel, immediate and unvarnished. Look at the way the artist uses the inherent qualities of photography to capture a specific moment. The graininess of the film emphasizes the raw reality of the scene, focusing our attention on the textures of the brick wall, the rough pavement, and the fire burning in the street. The contrast between light and shadow adds drama, highlighting the tension in the scene. Notice how the choice of black and white desaturates the scene of any embellishment, focusing the attention of the viewer on the social and political issues that the photograph evokes. The young women leaning against the wall, the graffiti, and the burning barricade all speak to a city in conflict, a place where everyday life is intertwined with political unrest. Peress's choice of photography as a medium underscores its power to bear witness, challenging traditional distinctions between art and documentation.