Russian Orthodox Fund, New York City 1975

Larry Fink made this photograph, Russian Orthodox Fund, New York City, at some point in his career using gelatin silver. The way Fink plays with light and shadow reminds me that artmaking is often about unveiling secrets, not just recording surfaces. Look at the way the light glances off the woman's face, and the subtle shifts in tone across the patterned backdrop. It’s almost like a chiaroscuro painting, but with the immediacy of a snapshot. The graininess of the print gives it a kind of raw, unfiltered quality, pulling us into the scene. You can almost feel the energy of the room, the clinking of glasses, the low hum of conversation. Fink reminds me a bit of Diane Arbus, with that knack for capturing the awkward beauty of everyday life. Both artists use photography to explore the complexities of human experience, embracing the messy, imperfect realities that often go unseen.