I was sad to hear over the past few days that photographer Larry Fink had passed away. Larry was of a generation of photographers, coming-of-age in the 1960s, when social consciousness was at the forefront of their work. Larry always struck a strong balance between documentary approach and fine art aesthetics. He was unique because, though he was social aware, his work was not simply dismissed as “cause” related. Maybe it was the Rembrandt-like lighting he often achieved with his flash. Larry is probably best known for his look at social stratification, the “haves” and the “have nots.” This work is the basis of much of Larry’s career, and is the featured subject of his outstanding book Social Graces from 1985.
It was around the time that this book was released that I first became aware of Larry Fink’s work. I was a college student at the time studying photography in New Jersey and I actually had a connection to Larry through a friend who worked as a darkroom assistant for him in nearby Pennsylvania. As part of my studies and involvement in the photography department, I thought it would be a good idea to reach out to Larry and see if he might come and meet with the fellow photo students at my school and also make a presentation. I got his phone number from the friend left him a message, and then lo and behold he called back, leaving me a message on an answering machine (old technology, I know…) The message made my film student roommate freak out that somebody of the caliber of Larry Fink would be leaving me a message. That’s the kind of world that we lived in that a figure such as Larry would make that kind of impression on us. Larry did agree to come spend a day with me and my fellow photo students, and he was charming and gracious ; very giving with his time, and I remember the work that he shared as part of his presentation left all of us inspired and impressed.
Needless to say, Larry’s whole career produced a string of stellar bodies of work. You can easily Google “Larry Fink, photographer” and see examples of his work. It’s sad when the greats of the medium pass on, but we are fortunate that they leave us inspiring bodies of work that will last far longer than any of us will. Thank you Larry, rest in peace.
