The Congressmen: Barney Frank and Gerry Studds 1993

In Nancy Andrews’ black and white photograph, we see Congressmen Barney Frank and Gerry Studds posing together. You know, I can imagine Andrews setting up the shot, thinking about how to frame these two figures against the backdrop of power. It’s interesting how a black and white image flattens things, turning these guys into shapes, forms, almost like an abstract painting. The columns in the background echo the vertical lines of their suits, creating a kind of visual rhythm. The way they lean, their expressions—it all feels so staged, so deliberately composed. What were they thinking in that moment? Were they self-conscious? Aware of the weight of their positions? Andrews has an eye for capturing these subtle nuances, the unspoken tensions and power dynamics at play. Photography is a constant conversation, a visual dialogue between the artist, the subject, and the viewer.