Man waiting to cross street--Los Angeles c. 1955 - 1956

Robert Frank took this photograph, Man waiting to cross street--Los Angeles, at an unknown date. It's a small black and white photograph, but it feels so big, doesn't it? The way Frank uses light and shadow is so subtle and gritty, almost like he is revealing more than simply documenting. Look at how the soft light falls on the man's back, making him almost glow against the dark street. The hands are nervously clasping something – maybe a crumpled napkin, maybe nothing – and the gesture becomes a focal point, drawing our eyes in. The texture of the man's jacket, caught in that perfect light, feels almost tactile. It reminds me a little of Walker Evans, but Frank's got a rawness that’s all his own. This photograph embraces ambiguity, leaving space for us to bring our own stories.