Gerald Waston, "Pro," Angola, Louisiana 10 - 1999

Deborah Luster made this portrait, "Pro," in Angola, Louisiana, using a photographic plate. The whole thing has a sepia tint, that old-timey way of making photographs. It’s interesting to think about the making of a photograph in terms of process, especially one like this, where the surface has marks and imperfections. The surface has a kind of glow, a warmth, that gives it a human quality. Look closely and you’ll see all sorts of marks that must have happened during development. It’s not a slick, digital image; it's got a real material presence. Even though it's a photograph of a man, it’s also a photograph as an object. Look at those dark corners, too, it’s not trying to be perfect. Luster's work makes me think of other photographers like, say, Sally Mann, who also embraces chance and accident in her process. Ultimately, I think this piece is about seeing how much life can be found in embracing the imperfections.