Foster White

b. 1993, USA

Philly born, Maryland raised and based in DC, Foster started his journey with still photography in high school. Being behind the camera, he was exposed to many experiences and perspectives. as well as a newfound appreciation for light and the process of capturing it. Portraiture forced him to find out what he thought was interesting about a subject, then devise a way to capture it honestly. This has captivated Foster from the very beginning. Currently, portraiture is his main form of expression. Each project is an attempt to push the artist's understanding of how light's interaction with a subject can shape the viewer's interpretation of the subject.

This series emerges from a desire to work through touch, material, and chance. My process is deliberately physical: I burn the prints, using soot to darken areas and guide the eye, sometimes letting the entire piece ignite until an effect surfaces that suggests a deeper meaning. These interventions make disruption and unpredictability inseparable from the image, echoing a painterly balance between control and spontaneity.

The subject is Milan Dixon, a model and close friend. Her bold features and soft presence embody a dynamic duality. Her deep skin tone became the anchor for the atmosphere of each image, with the world of the photograph built around it, never distracting but always accentuating and complementing her presence. Rather than imposing a fixed story, I invite ambiguity. Withheld details encourage viewers to enter the emotional atmosphere her energy carries.

Foster’s inspiration comes largely from photographers like Saul Leiter, Gordon Parks, Slim Aarons and Vivian Maier.