I suppose everyone has a story about their first love...mine began at The Museum of Modern Art. Now, I had never been to a museum before, let alone one by myself. Shamefully enough it wasn't even a visit for my own benefit, it was part of an assignment. After a few hours of schlepping around, staring blankly at work that wasn't saying much to me, I was hit in the face with what I would like to describe as catharsis. Right then and there my heart skipped a beat.
Lee Friedlander Self-Portrait, Haverstraw, New York 1966
It was the first time an image literally stopped me in my tracks and I had a hard time putting my finger on why I liked it so much. Perhaps it was bleak depiction of how a man would portray himself; that worn out shell of man behind the wheel of a now vintage car... or maybe I liked it because this image looked like it had been ripped out from a Hitchcock film. I didn't have the means to explain my admiration at the time, but It just felt so real to me. Much of Lee Friedlander's work functions as a mirror, be it himself or his surroundings...I guess I saw something of his in myself. As a beginner of photography I took inspiration from these visually striking photographs because they taken with a 35mm. His style of capturing detached moments with a grittiness and curiosity still grabs my attention. Sure, his examples of visual exploration have been beaten to death...anyone can take a picture of their own shadow or reflection from a storefront window, but how often are do you find a culmination of wit, drama, and anxiety-ridden alienation through a lens? Friedlander continues to shoot despite the limitations of old age. Staying true to his fascination with reflections (like the above image I've become permanently enamored with) his recent ventures document the view from the driver's seat. Although I find his older work more captivating, it's amazing to see a master still providing the raw honesty I've come to know and love. For a better retrospective of his works click here.