'Thrift Shop: Vintage San Francisco' - Limited Edition 1 of 15 Photograph

This work is somewhat reminiscent of the Surrealist Period of famed photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. In the rear counter of this thrift shop are three 'head-like figures'. This image was taken the time just before photographer Crosley met Cartier-Bresson in 1969, before Crosley became familiar with HCB's work, and before Crosley received career advice from le maitre. Black and white, 35 mm film, this image was taken while Crosley strolled the steep streets of San Francisco and found this shop on a side street of a major 'hill'. This thrift shop reveals a bit of mystery of photography and displays image timing unlikely ever repeated. In that sense it foreshadowed Crosley's admiration for HCB's legendary timing, known as choosing 'the decisive moment'. Crosley captured this image shortly before he met HCB. On the date of that meeting Crosley only realized HCB's greatness AFTER Crosley had met the famed photographer, received advice from him, and then viewed HCB's huge touring museum exhibition. The meeting had been arranged by San Francisco colleagues including one friend from HCB's past who favorably compared Crosley's infant portfolio to work of his long-ago China friend, Cartier-Bresson. (Jimmy White) This photo was in Crosley's work he presented to AP and is a major reason the AP board, general manager, and famed photo chief, Hal Buell, waived AP rules to allow Crosley's hiring. Crosley was told by HCB's friend on the AP staff Crosley's images reminded him of his 'old friend' Henry (HCB). At their meeting, Cartier-Bresson advised Crosley to shoot photos for Crosley's 'own pleasure' and leave the photo staff of Associated Press where Crosley was expected to begin work shooting sports, fires, crimes and the long-expected 'Big One' -- a new earthquake. Crosley followed Cartier-Bresson's advice and thereafter shot 'only for himself'. He quit the AP photographer job the day he was to begin his first assignment. AP made a decision to make Crosley a newsman, despite Crosley's complete inexperience in news writing and reporting. That decision paid off when on his first day on the job, Crosley wrote a story that ran on front pages nationwide about an encounter in Yosemite National Park between a lost little girl and a 'great big bear' in the park's bitter cold wilderness, in which the girl scared the bear off by violently shaking tree branches.

Photography:Black & White on Paper

Artist Produced Limited Edition of:1

Size:30 W x 20.2 H x 0.1 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.