Convention hall—Chicago 1956

Robert Frank made this photograph, 'Convention hall—Chicago', using black and white film to capture a moment in time. Frank’s approach feels raw and immediate, like he's grabbing a slice of life without posing it. The grainy texture and high contrast give it an almost uncomfortable realness. Look at the seated figures in their floral shirts, amidst a sea of empty seats. The contrast is stark, the image seems to buzz with a quiet sort of energy. The longer I look, the more I feel the weight of that heavy darkness creeping in from the edges. Frank’s work often deals with a sense of unease and alienation, and you see that here. Think of Garry Winogrand, another street photographer who wasn't afraid to show the gritty side of life. It's this willingness to embrace ambiguity that makes Frank's photographs so compelling, even now.