Guggenheim 335--Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana 1955

Robert Frank made this contact sheet, Guggenheim 335, of Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana, using photography. Isn’t it interesting how a contact sheet, usually just a step in the darkroom process, can become the final piece? I love how Frank lets us in on his process. This sheet isn't about one perfect image, but about the messy reality of image-making. There’s a real texture here. The grain of the film, the stark contrast of black and white, and the clear markings all contribute to a gritty feel. In the middle of the sheet, there’s a series of images with lots of people in the street, maybe a parade? What I love is that it's not perfect. It's a little blurry. It’s not romanticized, it’s a real moment. Frank reminds me of Garry Winogrand, who also embraced the accidental and the uncomposed. It reminds us that art isn’t about perfection, it’s about capturing life as it is, in all its beautiful, chaotic, and imperfect glory.