Dave at McDonald's 1989

Jim Goldberg made this photograph, Dave at McDonald's, using silver gelatin, a classic choice for black and white photography. It's the kind of process that allows for deep blacks and luminous greys. You can almost smell the developer in the darkroom. The composition is tight, pushing right into the figures. Dave is framed by his friends, and the smoke from his cigarette creates this ephemeral halo. There's a tension between the grittiness of the street and the fleeting moment of connection. It’s like Goldberg is saying, “Look, here’s life, raw and unfiltered.” The texture of the wall behind them is amazing, like the memory of countless encounters. It reminds me of the photographs of Robert Frank, who documented the underbelly of American society with similar compassion and candor. Both artists embrace the idea that art isn't about perfect representation, but about revealing the layers of human experience.