A Chance Encounter

Walker Evans, A Graveyard and Steel Mill in
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, November, 1935

Words and portrait by James Sherwood

Six years ago, my wife Shirley True and I were photographing in Eastern Pennsylvania. Upon deciding to check out Bethlehem, I suggested we look for the cemetery where Walker Evans made his iconic 1930s image [above]. Found it, but the large white cross was gone. After we surveyed the place for about an hour, we came upon this older couple sitting on a low stone wall up high on the hill.

As I approached them, perhaps fifteen feet away, I said, "are you Robert Frank?" He nodded and said, "yes" in a soft voice. His wife, artist June Leaf, was sitting beside him. They were on a road trip to North Carolina and decided to stop for a picnic lunch in this special place. We chatted briefly and snapped some pictures.

James Sherwood, Robert Frank and June Leaf, Bethlehem Cemetery

As lifelong photographers, neither Shirley nor I had ever experienced such a powerful, miraculous event. As our colleague Mark Power put it, "Searching for one great photographer and finding another." Needless to say, the relationship between Evans and Frank was significant in the course of history. They are certainly two of the most influential photographers in our lives.

Still gives me chills.

Jim

Old friend Jim Sherwood was once my boss at a photo studio, and his wife Shirley was one of my teachers at the Corcoran School of Art. Here's Jim's Facebook page. —Ed.

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Comments

[Jim]

Gave me chills as well.

[Eolake]

Question for James: how in the world did he get into his head that this would be Robert Frank??

Eolake

[Martin D]

What an intriguing and charming story. We wish the great man a safe journey onward, he has done some powerful things down here whilst he was around.

[Michael Perini]

What a great story, and one of those 'Treasures of a Lifetime' for you. Thanks.

I have this theory, -I can't support it in any way other than that it has been true over and over again in my life. It is that if you 'go out of your way' , 'go out one more time', stay a little longer, think positively about the photographers who came before you, 'Look Gratefully' at what is laid before you, and you do it as a matter of course in the way you work, You will often be rewarded with a picture.

It certainly seems to be true for you, what a treasure.

[Richard Alan Fox]

I never met Robert Frank but have been an admirer of his work for many years.
Several years ago I read a story perhaps in the Times or some other print or web publication regarding a ceremony that he was to attend to lecture or receive an award.
His only pair of pants needed to be replaced before the ceremony and someone was sent to fetch.
The author of the piece felt it relevant to reveal the waist and length of the garment.
I was overtaken with pride to know that while I would never be able to fill his shoes his pants would be a perfect fit.
Kaddish for Robert Frank.

[Mike Potter]

"Searching for one great photographer and finding another." - what a great experience. Thanks for sharing.

[Godfrey]

Brilliant. It is just such chance encounters that provide rich nuance to living.

I met Robert Frank very briefly after a talk he gave at the Cantor Museum in Stanford University. It was fantastic listening to him demythologize the pap that the art history PhDs were spouting. :)

His "The Americans" has been an inspiration to me since I was 16. Though he may be gone now, he will always be here for me.

G