Robert Franks essay

Robert Franks

Robert frank is indeed one of my favourite photographers of all time. I enjoy looking at his pictures and the way he captures moments perfectly blows me away. In my mind, each picture of his has a story behind it. He’s known for a series of photos in the book called “THE Americans”- With a total of 83 pictures. The book was first published in Paris in 1958, but then the book was so big in Paris, it made its way to the United states in the 1960’s. Robert has a interesting photographic method, “characterized by bold composition and ironic, sometimes bitter, social commentary.” his exquisite ways made him what he is today and got him noticed as well.

 

In my opinion Robert captures a lot of different photos, of emotions, loneliness and even love. For some reason, from these facial expressions it seems like they desire change in their life to be happy. For example this picture below on the right, it seems this girl is praying for something better to happen. In my mind it’s as she’s praying for a happier, better life and that she wants more than what she has already. The one on the left, it seems this young man loves this woman. But something’s wrong by the way he’s looking away. But whatever might be wrong, he still holds on to her And seems that he won’t give up on her. The woman isn’t showing much face, but by the way she’s sitting with her head down, seems as something is bothering her- although she is still holding on to him.      

 

 

When i looked through most of Robert Franks photos i noticed something. Most of the woman in the book SEEMS all sad and depressed. Maybe Robert wanted to show all sad women cause of the woman’s rights back then. Such as these photos below, you see that all the woman are depressed. I don’t know if he did this on purpose, or maybe its just what I think. It could be Robert randomly taking pictures of them and them looking unimpressed, it’s even possible he wanted them to look that way.

               

“ the Americans” is known as one of the most important/memorable books in photography since world II. Robert took 28,000 travelling all around the US visiting Detroit and Dearborn, Michigan; Savannah, Georgia; Miami Beach and St. Petersburg, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Reno, Nevada; Salt Lake City, Utah; Butte, Montana; and Chicago, Illinois. Only 83 photos was chosen to be published by Robert. Robert brought his kids and wife through most of travels. The Americans was really just Robert travelling around taking pictures of people. So, in 1955 he secured a grant because he was from Switzerland and then travelled in 1955 all across US and photographed his strata of its society.

As i said before, Robert captures sadness, loneliness and different emotions- a lot of mixture of different things. But surely mostly all of his photos have a story behind them. I really like Robert franks because i feel like he takes pictures of what he really likes and doesn’t care about what people say.. My theory is that he tried to capture emotion from people and tries to tell a story behind it. Because when i look at them a story forms in my head.