Congressional Q c. 1954 - 1955

This film contact sheet, Congressional Q, is by Robert Frank. Looking at this sheet is like peeking over Frank’s shoulder, seeing not just the final shot, but the outtakes, the near misses, the moments that didn’t quite make the cut. Each frame is like a little window into a different possibility. I'm curious about the marks, the crosses, and what they mean. Are they Frank's notes to himself? A way of saying, "Nope, not this one"? I love that we get to see this behind-the-scenes process. And that's what making art is all about, right? It's a process of constant questioning, of trying things out and seeing what sticks. And even the failures can be just as interesting, if not more so, than the successes. Because they remind us that art is always a work in progress, always evolving, always open to new possibilities.