Guggenheim 344--Esso oil refinery, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 1955

This is a black and white contact sheet by Robert Frank, featuring images of the Esso oil refinery in Baton Rouge. It’s like a storyboard, isn’t it? The frames all laid out in sequence. The granularity of the film gives the images a gritty, real feel. It’s not slick or airbrushed. Frank isn't trying to hide the process; he's showing us the raw, unedited version. Look at the image where men are gathered at tables, maybe eating or in a meeting. The composition is kind of messy, but that's what makes it so good! It shows a snapshot of everyday life, of people in their work environment. This attention to the mundane reminds me of Garry Winogrand. Both artists capture the world as they find it, without trying to pretty it up. It's about seeing what's there, and that's a beautiful thing.