I remember first taking photography in junior high. I borrowed a camera from class and after school I took photos of cars driving by. In high school I started taking photos of the ocean and the city. I saved up my paper route money and bought my first film camera. A Nikon FE-2. At UCSD I studied photography under Phel Steinmetz and learned how to tell stories with images. We went on outings to take photographs and learned of photographers who came before us.
One of my favorites was Robert Frank who authored The Americans in 1958. He traveled the country on a Guggenheim grant documenting the nation in an honest and stark manner.
I re-read his book on occasion and feel inspired to go out and document my travels.
Once in awhile I’ll find an old cafe or a lonely road like the ones he drove down.
Sorry to hear Robert Frank passed away. That’s good he lived into his 90’s.