the photos all have great use of  light and shadow, and the contrast between black and white  , and the photographer’s choice a very close distance to their subject. This photo makes me feel like that there is a-lot of story behind the person from their facial expression. Zanele Muholi FRPS is a South African artist and visual activist working in photography, video, and installation.Through the use of high-contrast black and white tonal values, Muholi exaggerates her skin tone to emphasize her ‘blackness’. At the heart of Muholi’s work lies a deep commitment to representing the LGBTQIA+ community in South Africa, particularly black individuals who face unique challenges due to the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality. I choose this photographer, because since I want to take photo that are taken from a really close up perspective, and black and white, and shows people’s identity, Zanele Muholi has also been taking these kind of photo.

one of my favorite photo is the last one. the photo is from the set name ” faces and phases” from 2006. the subject of the  photo or the ‘percipient’ as Zanele Muholi’s word is the people from the LGBTQIA+ community. in the photo we can see a portrait of a black LGBTQIA+ member wearing a suit, and their eyes looking firm. and the photo is black and white. this is One of their most iconic series, Faces and Phases, comprises over 250 portraits of black LGBTQIA+ individuals from South Africa and beyond. Launched in 2006, this ongoing project seeks to document the lives and experiences of its subjects, creating an archive of stories that have often been excluded from mainstream history. Each portrait in the series is an intimate exploration of identity, showcasing the resilience and strength of the LGBTQIA+ community in the face of adversity. this portrait is a photo of Busi Sigasa, a poet and activist who passed away from AIDS-related complications in 2007. The photograph captures Sigasa’s quiet dignity and determination, immortalizing her spirit and serving as a testament to her contributions to the struggle for LGBTQIA+ rights in South Africa. In the photo, my eyes was first caught by the eyes of the subject because since the eyes is white And the person itself is black. So it made a contrast,And really let the eyes to pop out. The facial expression of the person is also very intense.Which might cause the audience to wonder about the story behind the person. In this photo there is a great use of the color of black and white and the light and shadow. The distance of the portrait that the photography has chosen is also very good. the back ground also showed a great use of pattern. this photo made me feel a little bit guilty, as if the person it asking me about my stance to the LGBTQIA+ community. I think the message that the photographer is trying to deliver is to really tell the people from the LGBTQIA+ community that they are not alone, and there are people out there that are experiencing the same things as them. And also to hold right for the LGBTQIA+ community.