Robert Frank was a Swiss-born American photographer known for his book "The Americans" which featured candid photos he took while traveling across the United States in the 1950s. The book was initially criticized in the US for its bleak portrayal of American life but went on to influence generations of photographers. Frank is quoted as saying "You do your work as a photographer and everything becomes past. Words are more like thoughts; the photographer's picture is always surrounded by a kind of romantic glamor - no matter what you do, and how you twist it."

1. Robert Frank
“You do your work as a photographer and everything becomes past. Words are
more like thoughts; the photographer's picture is always surrounded by a kind of
romantic glamor - no matter what you do, and how you twist it.”
-Robert Frank
Presentation by:
Quintin Grolla

2. Who is Robert Frank?
• Born in Switzerland on November 9, 1924
• He turned to photography for as a way to escape the pressures of his
business-oriented family
• Living in Europe during the Second World War-while although safe in
Switzerland, it had impacted Frank and affected his understanding of
oppression which is later seen in his work.

3. His Immigration
• Frank immigrated to the
United States in 1947, and
secured a job in New York City
as a fashion photographer for
Harper's Bazaar.
• He soon left to travel in South
America and Europe.
• He published two more books
of photos he took in Peru, and
returned to the U.S. in 1950.
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4. What his Views of America was
• Though he was initially
optimistic about the United
States, Frank's perspective
quickly changed as he
confronted the fast pace of
American life and what he
saw as an overemphasis on
money.
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5. In Plain Sight
• He then saw America as
an often bleak and lonely
place, a perspective that
became evident in his later
photography.
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6. Robert Frank Portraits
•

7. The Turning Point in his Career
• In 1958, Robert Frank’s turning point had
been made through his album called “The
Americans”

8. “The Americans”
• In 1958, Robert Frank published the famous “The Americans”
• This publication is known to be the turning point of photography
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9. “The Americans” Cont.
• However, It was initially published in Paris, and the book faced significant
criticism upon it's U.S. publication.
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10. “Black and white are the colors of
photography. To me they symbolize the
alternatives of hope and despair to
which mankind is forever subjected.”
-Robert Frank
• (Above) This Photo is a very
interesting photo because it shows
the back of a bus and how
everyone was separated
• (Right) I feel this photo is
interesting because people had
entrusted others to take care of
their children and had been paid
very little

11. Who Inspired this Great Artist?
• Robert Frank had been inspired by one of the
most influential photographer of the twentieth
century.
• The photographer was Walker Evans.

12. Some of Walker Evans Work
•

13. The Influence he had
• The photographer Robert Frank was a
friend, collaborator, and influence on John
Cohen.
• His book “The Americans” had a great
influence on many people in the last half of
the twentieth century

14. How he Changed the Art Form
• Through his book, “The Americans” he
changed the way America looked at itself
and how photography is composed today.
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15. (left) This photo is emotionally (right) This photo really
moving because of the way the
image is composed. there are three
expresses the work
figures which shows the rule of odds conditions people were living
and the way the mood of the girl is
through.
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16. • “I have been frequently accused of deliberately twisting subject matter to
my point of view. Above all, I know that life for a photographer cannot be a
matter of indifference. Opinion often consists of a kind of criticism. But
criticism can come out of love.”
-Robert Frank
•
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17. (left) This photo is interesting
because there are the two kids
hanging upside down, with an
interesting background with the
rhinos
(right) This photo is well
composed because of the
vehicle’s door is framing the
loader, and there is also a
rule of thirds where the
loader is located
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18. Works Cited
• Sante, L. Seeing beauty in our shadows Robert
Frank's 'The Americans,' unpopular when first
published, has shaped the way America looks at
itself. Wall Street Journal. 2013. Online. March
18, 2013
• NPR. 'Americans': The Book That Changed
Photography. NPR, February 13, 2009. Online.
March 18th, 2013.
• Book rags Media Network. Robert Frank Quotes.
Brainy Quote. 2013. Online. March 15th, 2013
• "Robert Frank." The Biography Channel website.
1996. Online. March 19 2013.
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19. Works Cited cont.
• NY Times Co. Boston.com. Boston.com. 2013.
online. March 18th, 2013.
• Robert Frank-Fine Art. AtgetPhotography.com.
Robert Frank-Fine Art. Online. March 18th, 2013.
• The Slevedge Yard.
theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com. wordpress.com.
August 6, 2009. Online. March 18th, 2013.

20. Work Cited cont.
• Vanart Gallery. Projects.vanartgallery.bc.ca. Vanart Gallery. January 12,
2006. Online. March 19, 2013/
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