Istanbul, 2004, at Taksim Square Possibly 2004 - 2014

Leo Rubinfien made this photograph, in Istanbul, at Taksim Square, in 2004. I love the way Rubinfien uses black and white to strip away the distractions of color, focusing our attention on the emotional landscape of the scene. The men seem to be looking intently at something or someone beyond the frame. The photograph has this incredible depth, even though it's a flat surface. It’s all about the tonal range, how the light plays on their faces, creating shadows and highlights that give them volume and presence. Look at the graininess of the image, the texture that almost feels like you could touch it. It’s like the image is alive, breathing. Then, that out of focus head near the bottom of the frame, it’s placement pushes us back into the space and towards the men. Rubinfien’s work reminds me of Helen Levitt's street photography, capturing fleeting moments of everyday life. Like Levitt, he finds beauty in the ordinary, transforming the mundane into something extraordinary. Ultimately, this photograph embraces the ambiguity of life, inviting us to create our own narratives and interpretations.