New Lost City Ramblers c. 1960

This black and white photo by Robert Frank captures the New Lost City Ramblers in a field, instruments in hand. The fog is soft and the grass is high. I wonder, what was Frank thinking when he made this picture? Perhaps he saw in them something of himself, an artist wandering the country, gathering material. The Ramblers look like they could be anywhere, anytime. Their music feels timeless, but their clothes place them in a specific era. What strikes me is how Frank frames this shot. It’s almost as if the band and their small audience have stumbled into a painting. It's rough and ready - a slice of life, an invitation to listen in. I imagine his pictures being a way to share how he sees the world and maybe encourage others to see it differently too.