St. Gabriel, Louisiana 27 - 2000

Deborah Luster made this portrait in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, using a photographic process called tintype. This method dates back to the 19th century and involves creating a direct positive on a thin sheet of metal, in this case, iron. The result is a unique, one-of-a-kind image with a slightly ethereal quality due to the chemical processes involved. Tintypes were once an accessible form of photography, allowing everyday people to have their portraits taken. Luster's choice of this historical technique connects the subject to the past, evoking a sense of timelessness. The physical nature of the tintype also means that each image has unique imperfections and variations in tone, making each one a handcrafted object, a far cry from the mass production of digital photography today. This emphasis on material and process elevates the photograph beyond a mere representation, making it a tangible artifact of both the subject's presence and the artist's labor.