On a job with Eidenbenz, Basel 1945

This photograph, "On a job with Eidenbenz, Basel," was shot by Robert Frank sometime in the mid-20th century, and it’s a reminder that photography is about so much more than just pointing and shooting. It’s really Frank's high contrast that grabs me; he wasn't afraid to push the blacks and whites to their extremes. Look at how he frames the scene, tilting the camera upwards, so we see this worker silhouetted against what looks like a skylight. It’s a simple composition, but so effective. The texture of the image itself is wonderful, not too clean, with a bit of grain that gives it a raw, almost tactile quality. That grain is like a painter's brushstroke, adding depth and character. There is a strong sense of the moment, a fleeting glimpse into the everyday life of a worker, captured with such honesty and immediacy. It's this embrace of imperfection and the off-kilter view that connects Frank's vision to other photographers, like Diane Arbus, who found beauty in the unexpected.