Saint Patrick's Day parade--New York City no number 17 - 1958

Robert Frank's photographic film, "Saint Patrick's Day parade--New York City" captures a moment of urban celebration. It's not a painting, of course, but the act of framing and sequencing these images has so much in common with the way a painter composes a picture. I see a kind of emotional layering, a sense of time passing as Frank moves through the crowd. What was he thinking as he captured these frames? Maybe he was chasing a feeling, a vibe only New York can offer on that day. Each frame pulses with the energy of the street. It's like he's saying that every moment, even the fleeting ones, can be a work of art. Frank's work reminds us that photography, like painting, is about seeing and feeling, and about freezing a moment in time so we can really look at it. It’s about being present, chasing the light, and trusting your gut. And maybe having a little bit of luck of the Irish.