Arrival of the Queen--London 1 1952 - 1953

This is Robert Frank’s photo contact sheet, *Arrival of the Queen—London 1.* It’s a series of images, like film stills, but here they record a real-life event. I can imagine Frank, that day in London, trying to find the right angle, the perfect composition, the telling detail. He's wandering around with his camera, looking and thinking, clicking away, maybe mumbling to himself. I can almost feel the grainy texture and see the stark contrasts in the black and white of the film. There is a sea of faces. Who are they? What are they thinking? He must have been curious about the event, but also about photography itself. Look at the images of top hats, or the Queen’s car. It reminds me of the work of other photographers, like Garry Winogrand. This reminds me that artists are always in dialogue with each other, riffing off each other's ideas, pushing the boundaries of their chosen medium. Making art is about uncertainty, searching, and openness.