Wales 48 1953

Robert Frank made this contact sheet, "Wales 48", using gelatin silver on paper. I just love contact sheets. It feels like I’m looking through the artist’s eyes as they consider all the different possible shots and angles they took, trying to work out which one is best. I imagine Frank in the darkroom, squinting as he examines each frame. The light and shadow is what grabs me. The contrast between the bright highlights and deep blacks creates a real sense of drama. The images jump out at you in a way that feels so raw and immediate. It reminds me a lot of his earlier work, where he really pushed the boundaries of documentary photography. It makes you think about how the choices that an artist makes can completely change how we see the world. It’s like a conversation between Frank and all the photographers who came before him.