The Unknown Florida

Good photographic portraits have typically something in common: They all show the pride and humanity of the photographed independent from the situation or environment the subject is in. Class, wealth, profession, outfit or other external circumstances should not matter in a portrait that captures the humanity of the subject. For example, in August Sander’s seminal work People of the 20th Century, portraits of Germans during the Weimar Republic from all walks of life, all photographs exhibit the dignity and pride of the photographed. Other famous examples include the dignified depression era portraits by Dorothea Lange and street photographs by Diane Arbus.

However, there exists a subtle interaction between the observer and the person in the photograph. While the photo ideally should project the humanity of the subject onto the observer, the viewer also interprets the photograph by using subconscious stereotypes and prejudices. For example, due to the centuries-old racist stereotype of African-American men being threatening and potentially violent, we unconsciously interpret depictions of black men in a similar way. While this does not have consequences for someone looking at a photo, there are potentially severe consequences in the real world.

All the portraits were taken 2023 in Tallahassee, Florida.