Early New York City A22 1948 - 1951

This contact sheet, Early New York City A22, by Robert Frank presents a series of moments captured on film. The grainy texture and high contrast reminds us that photography isn't just about capturing a perfect image, but also about documenting a process, a way of seeing. Look at the sequence of images in the top rows; you can see that they are of skyscrapers. The light flares in a way that flattens the composition, and it’s as if they’re glowing or even burning. The repetition of the frames, marked with the artist’s annotations, emphasizes the physicality of the film itself. The contact sheet shows us not just the final image, but all the outtakes, the attempts, and the failures that make up the artistic process. Frank, like his contemporary, Helen Levitt, had a knack for capturing the spontaneous energy of city life. He lets the viewer in on the secrets of his craft, making us complicit in the act of seeing, reminding us that art is not just about the end result, but about the journey of discovery.