Motorama—Los Angeles 1956

This black and white photograph, titled "Motorama--Los Angeles," was shot by Robert Frank, probably in the 1950s. In it, you see the back of a car, and inside, three kids peering out. What were they looking at, I wonder? What might Frank have been thinking when he took this picture? He must have had a story in mind when he framed this shot. The photograph seems to be about an observation, or a stolen glimpse of a scene. It’s as if Frank is not an active participant, but more like a recorder, quietly capturing a moment. I love the way the kids' faces seem to hang in the picture. They are so serious, and so separate from one another. What could they possibly be thinking? Frank finds beauty in the mundane, making the ordinary seem extraordinary. Like many artists, Frank shows us that true insight comes from seeing the world with fresh eyes.