Paris 12B 1951 - 1952

This is "Paris 12B," a photo by Robert Frank. It is a contact sheet, full of small black and white images that look like a dance between light and shadow, all held together by the dark bars of the film strip. Frank's way of seeing feels intuitive. The images aren't overly composed, they have a kind of raw spontaneity. It's like he's grabbing moments as they happen, not trying to control them, a true process. Look at the frame in the third row, fourth from the left, enclosed in bright blue marker. It contains this dark verticality, a rhythm of tree trunks receding into the distance. It’s got a stark beauty, that almost feels like a drawing. Thinking about other photographers, someone like Garry Winogrand comes to mind. Both of them capture street life with this restless energy, as if they are looking for something. What is that 'something'? Who knows. Maybe it's the beauty of the everyday, or maybe it's something deeper. It's up to you to decide.