Dance, American Legion, Bangor, Pennsylvania 1979

Larry Fink made this photograph, "Dance, American Legion, Bangor, Pennsylvania", with a camera and film, to capture a slice of life. It's like a visual poem, a moment snatched from the flow of time. The photograph has a kind of smoky haze, a blur that feels both intimate and distant. I love how the light catches the smoke, turning it into a ghostly halo above the figures. There's a real contrast between the dark, shadowy background and the luminous faces of the people at the bar. That hazy light softens the edges of everything, creating a dreamy, almost surreal atmosphere. The way Fink composes the scene, with the bar cutting across the foreground, it feels like we’re right there, eavesdropping on their night out. It reminds me a bit of Nan Goldin's work, that raw, unfiltered look at everyday life. It is a reminder that art doesn't always need to be polished or perfect. Sometimes, it's the grit and the blur that tell the real story.