Oslin's Graduation Party, Martins Creek, Pennsylvania 1977

Larry Fink made this photograph, "Oslin's Graduation Party, Martins Creek, Pennsylvania," sometime during his career. The grayscale tones feel immediate and gritty, and right away I wonder, what kind of party is this? Looking closely, I notice the contrast is pretty high, pushing the blacks deep and the whites almost glowing. The sharpness isn’t uniform; faces are clear, but the edges dissolve into a blur. It's like Fink wanted to freeze this moment, but the world around it keeps moving, kind of like memory, right? There's this kid on his dad’s lap, looking away, and another one standing in the doorway. The composition is so casual, almost like a snapshot, but the way the light falls feels deliberate, theatrical even. It reminds me a bit of Nan Goldin, that same raw, unguarded look at life. It's like Fink is saying, "Here it is, take it or leave it," you know?