Congressional Q c. 1954 - 1955

Robert Frank created this photo, Congressional Q, using film. It's like getting a peek behind the curtain of how a photographer thinks. The contact sheet shows us the raw material, the outtakes. It shows us his process, one shot after another, a series of attempts, showing a congressional hearing, and other images. And then those red crosses: brutal decisions. The graininess of the film, the high contrast, creates this incredible tension. There’s a raw, unfiltered quality, and that quality is the point. You know, it reminds me a little of what William Klein was doing. It’s rough, it’s immediate, it’s like a visual diary. It’s a real slice of life, American style.