Men standing on street--Scottsboro, Alabama 1955

This black and white photograph by Robert Frank shows a row of men standing on a street in Scottsboro, Alabama. What were they waiting for, I wonder? I can imagine Frank, camera in hand, circling, searching for the right angle. You can almost feel him trying to make sense of this moment. He’s looking for a kind of truth, one that's rough, unpolished, and deeply felt. The composition feels tense, unbalanced. The men are lined up with the coffee shop, Reid's supplies, and a theater behind them. They seem stuck and full of apprehension. Like he's searching for a specific feeling, a mood that captures the particular atmosphere of this place and time. Robert Frank reminds us that art isn’t about perfection, it’s about vulnerability, and staying open to whatever messiness life throws our way. It makes me want to go make something myself. How about you?