​Light in the Darkness

Devin Eisman (USA)

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Artist Statement

Among my favorite subjects to photograph are forgotten places and buildings. I hope to capture a story through color and light that evokes a hint of what might have taken place there in their past. This photo was taken at the abandoned Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, PA which, at one time, was the most famous and expensive prison in the world and housed the likes of Al Capone. Its architecture, dramatically emphasized by the skylight in this photo, was meant to remind prisoners that “God was always watching from above” and that they should constantly be repenting. Alternatively, what I hoped to create was a sense of always finding the light in the darkness; no matter how dismal or dark the situation, to never stop looking for that glimmer of hope.
 

Biography

Devin Eisman is a 16-year-old American amateur photographer. He first picked up a camera in an art class in high school. What began as a curriculum requirement quickly developed into a passion. Since then, Devin’s work has been recognized worldwide. He was a finalist in the Young Travel Photographer of the Year competition (2022). Additionally, since January 2023, his work has been featured in multiple group exhibitions at both Black Box Gallery (Portland, Oregon, USA) and The Glasgow Gallery of Photography (Glasgow, Scotland, UK). His work was also selected for the 30th annual Phillip’s Mill Photographic Exhibition (New Hope, PA, USA) and The Montgomery Photo Festival (Montgomery, AL, USA). Devin is a lifelong resident of Malibu, California, USA. In his free time, he is an avid athlete and plays ice hockey in both the USA and Israel.