Billy Mann (“Death is more perfect than life”) by Larry Clark

Lawrence Donald “Larry” Clark (b. 1943) is an American film director, photographer, writer and film producer who is best known for his controversial teen film Kids (1995), his prominent photography book Tulsa(1971), and its “semi-autobiographical” follow-up, Teenage Lust (1983). His work focuses primarily on youth who casually engage in illegal drug use, underage sex, and violence, and who are part of a specific subculture, such as surfing, punk rock or skateboarding.

– Adapted from Wikipedia.com

One of the most iconic photographs from Larry Clark’s most famous series, this photograph is often titled “Dead” because Billy Mann had died by the time the first edition of Tulsa was released. The image illustrates many of the key elements found in Clark’s work: it romanticizes the criminal activity his subjects were engaged in; it casts a fond eye on physique; and it foreshadows looming danger. The print itself has good contrast and a full modulation of tonality, making the utmost of the image’s grain.