Motorama—Los Angeles 1956

Robert Frank shot ‘Motorama—Los Angeles’ sometime in the 20th century. What a shot of postwar consumerism and the family unit—and the family car! I can just imagine Frank in the crowd, with his trusty Leica, trying to capture the feeling of this trade fair. The composition, the faces. They tell a story of aspirations and dreams, and maybe some anxieties too. I wonder if Frank ever felt like an outsider looking in? I do, always. His high contrast gives the work an edge, a sense of urgency, as though he needed to capture this scene before it disappeared. The cropping is super interesting, like he’s zooming in on a detail of a larger story. It reminds me of Weegee's street photography, but with a softer touch. Artists like Frank, they show us how to see the world in new ways, how to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. His work is still inspiring photographers and artists today!