Pat Sabatine's Eleventh Birthday, Martins Creek, Pennsylvania 1980

Larry Fink made this photograph, "Pat Sabatine's Eleventh Birthday, Martins Creek, Pennsylvania", most likely with a 35mm camera, though the grain and depth of field make it feel bigger. It’s the kind of picture that makes you feel like you're right there in the room, awkwardly close to the party. Fink’s photos, especially his black and white work, aren’t about perfection; they’re about moments. You can see it in the way the light catches on the faces, how the shadows pull back, and the composition feels like a snapshot of real life. There's this incredible texture, almost rough, which makes it feel super intimate. The way he frames the partygoers, some looking right at him, others lost in their own world, that’s what makes it. Think of Nan Goldin's raw, honest portraits, but with a bit more distance, maybe a touch of social commentary. It's like he's saying, "Here it is, life in all its messy glory."