i have such respect for photographers like barron claiborne who just followed their passion without question or query. having received a camera at an early age, and not having stopped since. his arresting images are crossing over from mere social documentation to a respectful celebration of african ancestry. the near-vintage feeling he captures in his subjects testifies to the precious way in which he perceives them, conveying more than a superficial beauty he brings a quality of yesteryear’s sophistication and at the same time fusing the exotic essence of a bygone history into more mainstream social context. rannging from provocative to demure, their side long looks at the camera and the element of uncertainty beautifully captures the cultural insecurity and sensitively raises the issues surrounding the misplaced identities that lie at the root of it. it’s all about acceptance and difference; being such a humane element contained in barron’s work that evokes an emotionality that is more than the visual experience alone. i just adore such artistry that can do that layered thing that remains with you long after the showing. truly masterful and darkly romantic, his work contains a simplicity that allows the picture to communicate sensitive issues without sensationalism…
