Robert Frank's - The Americans - @ The MET, NYC

Trolley Car, New Orleans - 1955

Many things have and will be said of Robert Frank's monumental photographic reportage of the state of things in America back in '55. Jack Kerouac said,

"Anybody doesn't like these pitchers don't like potry, see? Anybody don't like potry go home see Television shots of big hatted cowboys being tolerated by kind horses. Robert Frank, Swiss, unobtrusive, nice, with that little camera that he raises and snaps with one hand he sucked a sad poem right out of America onto film, taking rank among the tragic poets of the world."

Was lucky enough to catch the entire body of work for his romp through the heartlands and badlands last night at the Metropolitan Museum while on assignment. Along with Cartier-Bresson, Frank has been my true mentor and teacher through all these years. Thanks.

Rodeo - New York City, 1954

Chicago Express Inc.

From Robert Frank's 'The Americans' - Taken at the Art Institute of Chicago with permission.

Lee Friedlander @ the SF MOMA

OK - besides Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Frank, the two modern fathers of 'street photography', Lee Freidlander is my third and most significant influence. For those of you in the SF Bay area, do check out his whopping 400+ print show at the MOMA. Gary and I made our way down there yesterday evening to pay our respects and charge our photo batteries so to speak. Makes me realize why I am so driven and inspired to continually shoot. Special thanks to Alan Nomura, my photo mentor, for introducing me to Friedlander and for being such a great friend, teacher and confidant. You the man!
NOTE: The bottom middle nude is an early shot of the material girl herself circa 1979. I knew she was in this series from one of his books but couldn't remember which one. Gary recognized her first, "you can tell by the arm pits."