Bob Cumming 1975

Mike Mandel made this photograph, Bob Cumming, sometime in the last century. It looks like a baseball card, but it's art. I’m imagining Mike, camera in hand, coaxing Bob to throw a ball, trying to capture that perfect moment of action and grace, the ball suspended in the air. What's so great is how it captures a slice of life, turning the everyday into something worth looking at. Think about that for a minute... The black and white tones give it a timeless feel, and the composition is just so classic. I wonder what Bob was thinking as he threw the ball. Was he aiming for a strike, or just enjoying the feel of the sun on his face? It reminds me of those old Weegee photos, or even some of the early street photography. Ultimately, it’s a testament to the idea that art can be found anywhere, in the most unexpected places.