Bicyclist passing flower vendor, Paris 1951

Robert Frank made this photograph, 'Bicyclist passing flower vendor, Paris,' using gelatin silver. I can almost feel the Parisian air just looking at it. I wonder what Frank was thinking as he captured this fleeting moment? There’s a vendor, flowers in hand, and a bicyclist gliding by, all in a soft, silver-toned world. Thinking about the process, I feel the quickness in it. It’s not about perfection; it’s about capturing a feeling, a moment in time that’s almost gone before you can grab it. It reminds me of how a painter might quickly sketch a scene, trying to catch the light and shadow, the essence of a place. There’s a vulnerability in the process, a trust in the eye and the gut. This photograph speaks to a long tradition of artists capturing everyday life, moments of beauty in the mundane. I feel a connection to Frank through this image.