San Gennaro festival--Early New York City no number 1951

Robert Frank's contact sheet for the San Gennaro festival feels so spontaneous, like he was right there in the thick of it, just snapping away. I think a lot about how photographers choose what to show us, and what to leave out. And I wonder what Frank was thinking as he captured these moments. It reminds me of my own process when I am painting. It’s that feeling of being on the hunt, searching, and trying to freeze a fleeting moment. Each frame here is like a brushstroke, a mark made in time. The graininess and stark contrast emphasize the gritty energy of the festival, the push and pull of the crowd, the bright lights against the dark night. Looking at this contact sheet, I can see Frank’s influence on other photographers who embraced a similar street style—artists constantly experimenting with the medium to capture their vision. Ultimately, art is about dialogue, the sharing of ideas, and the ways in which we learn from and inspire each other.