Morning reading of the NY Times, compelled to stop and read about a great photographer who died at 94 in Nova Scotia. Like me, he had two first names and an eye for shooting people in natural settings. His book “The Americans” had a great influence on me, 83 exquisite black and white photos.
Kerouac wrote the intro to the book, which says a lot about the character of his work. Criticism from Popular Photography magazine made me love his work all the more. “Meaningless blur, grain, muddy exposures, drunken horizons, and general sloppiness.” The critic said of his work. Wrong from a magazine I detested.
Frank is one of many great photographers dying recently in their 90s. As an undiscovered ‘great’ photographer, I’d love to see 90 as long as my libido is active.
I’ll have to add “The Americans” to my photo book collection in honor of Robert Frank.