Motorama—Los Angeles 1956

Robert Frank took this photograph, Motorama—Los Angeles, sometime in the mid-twentieth century. The way Frank coaxes such a rich range of tones from black and white film reminds me of the way a painter builds up layers of color, gradually shifting from light to dark. It’s all about process, you know? Look how the light bounces off the gleaming chrome and the creamy curves of the car. Then, see how the grays deepen in the shadows behind the crowd, creating this incredible sense of depth and atmosphere. That little girl peeking out from behind the car, her face so full of curiosity – she's the real focal point. She's cropped so her body almost merges with the car. It's like she's not quite part of the scene, an outsider like the artist. This captures a particular moment in time, similar to the work of Garry Winogrand. But where Winogrand feels hectic and frantic, Frank is more melancholy. It's a reminder that art is really about how we see and feel, not just what we see.