Trolley—New Orleans 1955

This is Robert Frank's photograph of a New Orleans trolley, printed on an 8 x 10 inch sheet. You know, when I look at this, I immediately think about what it must have been like for Frank to be there, on that trolley, framing this shot. I imagine he felt a certain urgency, a need to capture something fleeting. It's more than just documenting faces; it's about capturing a moment in time. The contrast is so striking: the dark skin against the light, the old versus the young. That boy in the suit. He just kills me. This reminds me of the work of other street photographers who try to be observers. The texture isn’t in the surface of a painting, but in the way the image makes you feel. The framing and composition create tension. I can feel that Frank is speaking to something deeper about American society at that time. We can look at this and appreciate Frank’s sensitivity. Ultimately, the photograph is about us, the viewers. It’s a mirror reflecting our own questions and interpretations.