Caerau, Wales 1953

In 1957, Robert Frank captured these men with a camera in Caerau, Wales. I can only imagine being there in that place with Robert Frank as he captured this image. I’d like to think that he and I would be kindred spirits, both looking for some way of creating a lasting impression by understanding the here and now. Look at how the figures emerge from the dark. The image is printed in black and white, and the contrasts between light and shadow shape our perception. The men’s faces are heavily marked with coal dust, contrasting with the pale skin around their eyes, which seem to burn with emotion. I can see a certain anxiety, or is it fatigue, etched onto their faces? Robert Frank had a unique approach to capturing emotion, one that many photographers have since been inspired by. I hope his work inspires you to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty in your life, and look for meaning in the most unexpected places.