Street scene, Paris 1951

Robert Frank snapped this image, Street scene, Paris, sometime in the mid-20th century, and what gets me is how the light and shadow play out in shades of gray. Look at the man in the foreground with his back to us, his coat a solid block of dark, and the delicate blooms he carries - tiny spots of brightness. There’s a tension between the texture of his tweed jacket, and the smooth, almost blurred faces in the background, as if Frank wants to suggest that appearances can be deceptive. There’s also something about the way Frank crops the shot, cutting off heads and bodies, that makes you feel like you're right there on the street, jostling with the crowd. I'm reminded of Walker Evans, another street photographer. Both had the knack of capturing everyday life, and elevating it to something profound. Ultimately, Street scene, Paris, is less a record of a place and more an exploration of human experience, a quiet meditation on life, loss, and the fleeting beauty of the everyday.