Dennis Hopper at the RA (London) and the The Americans (Robert Franks)

[RegentSt1965]

After an enjoyable morning at the Royal Academy showing of Hopper's Last Album (his 'photos from '63-'67) I scored a good used copy of Frank's The Americans courtesy of the evil Monolith that is Amazon (evil, that is, if you are an author published by the likes of Hachette) . Anyway, the Hopper exhib is worth a visit, truly candid shots on the lots and backstages and the streets. Much to wallow in if, like me, you were a frustrated kid trapped this side of the Atlantic at the time whilst it all seemed to be happening in the US of A . Similarly, Frank's great photographic Odyssey around the USA in the 50's captures a lot in what can only be a fraction of his total shots (OK, there is a bit of fixation on juke boxes and funerals, but WTF) Look for the good ole boy with chinos, tucked in Hawaiian and sockless with sneakers that look like black CVO's with a rubber toe (OK they are not CVOs, but only way to describe these classic simple shoes that we here would have called "pumps" at the time)
FYI the Hopper exhip is on until 19th October. The Americans, BTW has a foreword by Kerouac.