Public ceremony--Casper, Wyoming 1956

Robert Frank’s photograph ‘Public Ceremony - Casper, Wyoming’ captures a moment, no date given, of civic life. What strikes me first is the flatness, the layering of figures on the steps. The photograph is high contrast; the almost grainy blacks and stark whites create an immediate tension. Look at the way the light falls, it illuminates the edges of the steps while casting deep shadows that obscure the faces. See how this treatment of light creates a sense of anonymity, almost like these figures are stand-ins for larger ideas. The man descending the steps with a rifle slung over his shoulder. This is the heart of the photo. The stark contrast reminds me of some of Walker Evans' earlier work, especially in its unvarnished portrayal of American life. Ultimately, this image gets at the heart of what photography can do: freeze a fleeting moment and invite us to find our own meaning in its ambiguities.