Men in garage--Gallup, New Mexico 1955

This photograph, Men in Garage—Gallup, New Mexico, was shot by Robert Frank sometime during his travels across America. It makes me think about how photographs can be like paintings, or how painting can be like photography. What I mean is, there’s a kind of social observation at play here, and a sense of the artist as someone who's just dropped into this scene, camera in hand. I imagine him there, in that garage in Gallup, New Mexico, trying to decide exactly where to stand, and what to point the camera at. Frank shot in black and white, so right away, the mood is set - a bit somber, a bit serious. He captures a group of folks gathered together, maybe waiting, maybe watching. I like that he shot it at a slight angle, giving it an uneasy feeling, almost like everything is a little off-kilter. He crops in close, making the scene feel intimate, but also a little voyeuristic. Like he's sneaking a peek.