New Year's Eve, American Legion, Bangor, Pennsylvania 1980

Larry Fink made this photograph at the American Legion in Bangor, Pennsylvania; the title tells us it was New Year's Eve, but the date is unconfirmed. The high contrast and close range give the image an immersive, visceral feel, emphasizing its gritty realism. Fink doesn't hide the process; instead, he embraces the raw, documentary style. The textures are palpable, from the grainy shadows to the bright highlights on faces and hands. Look at the woman in the center, her mouth wide open in a shout, her glasses reflecting the flash. The light seems to carve her face out of the darkness, a stark, unflinching portrait of revelry and aging. The man to her right, partially obscured, has a knowing smirk, as if he understands the messy humanity on display. Fink reminds me a bit of Diane Arbus, both artists unafraid to capture the world as they see it, strange and beautiful. Like all good art, this photograph challenges us to look closer and find our own meaning.