Sunday, April 26, 2015

Dorothea Lange Profile


Photo by unknown
Dorothea Lange was a well-known documentary photojournalist. Lange was born on May 26, 1895 in Hoboken, New Jersey. According to Biography.com, Lange contracted polio as a child, which left her weakened. As her life progressed, she faced more challenges. Her parents divorced when Lange was a teen. Despite the struggles that Lange had to overcome, she continued her education at Columbia University. Lange's photography career started in 1919 when she opened her own portrait studio. 

Dorothea Lange's most popular photographs were taken while working for the California and Federal Resettlement Administration, which is also known today as the Farm Security Administration. She worked as a documentary photographer. According to an article on Americanswhotellthetruth.com, Lange was hired to, "record the Dust Bowl exodus when drought and hard times forced thousands of farm families to move west in search of work". Lange's work under the California and Federal Resettlement Administration was extremely important and informative. One of the most popular photographs from Lange during this time is "Migrant Mother". When Lange photographed the family, the mother explained that the only food that the family was getting was frozen vegetables and birds that the children killed. This image shows the true struggles that families were going through during these times. One can infer that the family is going through a struggle just by examining the photograph. Dorothea Lange went a step further and aimed to discover the full story from the person being photographed.


Photo by Dorothea Lange

The obvious main subject of the photograph is the mother. Although there are two small children surrounding her, the viewers eye is directed towards the mother. The mother takes up about half of the photograph. Without the obvious main subject, the photograph would not have the same impact. There is a feeling of desperation and hopelessness that is given off by the expression of the mother. She does not look overly posed. Her expression is fitting for the situation that the families were facing during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl exodus. Also, the fact that the children are leaning on the mother suggests that the children are truly depending upon the mother for survival. The image is in black and white. I think that this adds to the drama of the photograph. Color would take away from the image rather than add to it. 

After working for the Farm Security Administration, Lange worked for the Office of War Administration and the War Relocation Authority according to an article on spatacus-educational.com. In 1942, Lange photographed the internment of Japanese Americans. Lange did not agree with the displacement of the Japanese Americans, which made it difficult for her to photograph her subjects. This is where her ethics came into place. Although she did not agree with the governments decisions, she photographed the internment of the Japanese Americans. This gave Lange the opportunity to share the stories of the people. The government censored many of Lange's photographs. 


Photo by Dorothea Lange

The above photograph was taken during the internment of Japanese Americans by Dorothea Lange. The use of lines is very noticeable in this image. The people are in two straight lines, which draws the eye down the line. Also, the buildings in the background create a line and add symmetry to the photograph. Also, the lines seem to split the image into three sections. The light of the photograph is not bold or dramatic. It is very flat. The left side of the photograph is lighter than the right side of the image. The left side is washed out compared to the right. I think that the composition of the photograph is fairly simple. The people for the most part are in two lines. There isn't much going on in the background of the photograph besides the buildings. The buildings are very similar to each other, which makes the photograph simple. 

Dorothea Lange also worked for magazines such as Fortune & Life. According to an article onAmericanswhotellthetruth.com, Lange, "visited Vietnam, Ireland, Pakistan and India, making photographic essays for Life magazine." One of the most popular assignments that Lange had was when she was sent to Ireland. She photographed the people who were, "working people of modest means who, unlike the tenant farmers and displaced migrants of the Great Depression, farmed and worked their family-owned land." It was a change of pace for Lange at this point in her career. 


Photo by Dorothea Lange

The rule of thirds is very evident in this photograph. The man is the main subject of the photograph and he is placed in the last third of the photograph if you split the photograph vertically. The horse is placed in the middle of the photograph, but it is not meant to be the main subject of the photograph. You can infer that a faster shutter speed was used for the photograph because the image is not blurry. The horse was probably moving around and if a slower shutter speed was used, the horse would come out blurry. The image is in focus. The mountains in the background are a little out of focus, but that is expected because they are not the main subject. The main subject of the photograph is definitely in focus. 

Dorothea Lange worked in the 1920's and 1930's to photograph the Great Depression. Also, she worked as a photojournalist during the 1940's to photograph the Japanese American internment camps. At this time, it was difficult for a female photojournalist to get the same credit as a male photojournalist. Females had to work harder to get noticed during this time. Photojournalism was a male dominated career. 

Lange's motivation for photojournalism was started in the early years of her life. When she was younger, she contracted polio and when she was a teen, her father left her family. Dorothea Lange went through struggles early in her life that motivated her later on in life. As a child, she understood what suffering was. She felt like it was her duty to show the struggles and suffering of those who are unable to show it to the world. According to dorothea-lange.org, "she believed passionately that those who were pushed to the margins, whose existence had no color, needed to be heard, as well as seen." It was a passion of this photojournalist to raise awareness for those who are unable to have a voice. 

The type of photographic equipment that Dorothea Lange used was a Graflex camera with a film size of 4x5. She photographed the Dust Bowl and Great Depression with this camera as well as the Japanese American internment camps. This camera was a popular press and sports camera. It allowed the photographer to take photographs without the subject being blurry if it was in motion. 

As with any photographer, Dorothea Lange faced ethical dilemmas. Lange photographed sensitive events in history. The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl were very emotional times for the United States. It was a low point in our history. It would be difficult for any photographer to photograph people who are going through a hard time. Most of the people that she photographed had a hard time finding food to eat for the night. I can imagine that it would be hard to go up to someone and ask to take a picture of them at a very difficult point in their life. Another ethical dilemma involves the photographs taken in the Japanese American internment camps. Lange did not agree with what the government was doing to the Japanese Americans. This could cause some bias with the photographer and its subject. She did not agree with the situation and therefore she might take photographs to make the situation look a lot worse than it was. However, the government censored a lot of the images, which could mean that the photographs were so real that the government did not want the citizens to know what was actually happening at the internment camps. 

Photo by Dorothea Lange

The contrast of the above photograph is high. There are a lot of very dark and very light aspects. The sky appears to be very white. The clothing of the people is very dark against the white sky. This adds to the emotion of the image. It was taken during the Great Depression and the light and dark aspects add drama to the photograph. The background of the image compliments the photograph. It is very plain. If there was a lot going on in the background, it would be impossible to focus on the faces of the people. The background is out of focus. The right amount of area is in focus for this image. The focus is on the people in the wagon. There is more focus on the people in the front of the wagon rather than the front, but you can still see every person. The background of the image is blurry, which directs your attention to the people. 

Dorothea Lange had a large impact on photojournalism and society as a whole. She brought awareness to the struggles of millions of Americans during the Great Depression. It was a documentation of a moment in history that people still look back on today. She made the world more aware of the unfair treatment of Japanese Americans in the internment camps. She serves as an inspiration to photojournalists around the world. She was able to give a voice to those who lacked the ability to share their story. Also, Dorothea Lange established the Aperture Foundation and magazine. 

In relation to my major at AIC, Lange worked for the Farm Security Administration, which was created under the Department of Agriculture. This was initiated by the United States government. This relates to my major at AIC because I am a criminal justice major. Another part of Lange's career that relates to my major is that she wanted to understand the suffering of others, not just simply take a photograph of them. I am a psychology major as well as criminal justice. As a psychologist, you are expected to understand others and why they are struggling.

Overall, Dorothea Lange was remembered as a pioneer in photojournalism. She pushed the boundaries as a female photojournalist. She strived to give those who were struggling and suffering a voice. The viewpoints of others on Lange were most likely the same. She fought as a female in a male dominated profession and she truly fought for awareness for those who needed it the most. Her photographs will be remembered and viewed for many years to come. 

Sunday, April 12, 2015

What Motivates Photojournalists?

Photo by Lynn Johnson

Motivation can be described as why a person does something. It pushes people to complete tasks and without it, not a lot would get done. There are many things that motivate a photojournalist to take photographs. The photojournalist might be motivated by money. Another possibility is to be motivated by being published. One photojournalist, Lynn Johnson, explains that her motivation is revolved around being a female in a male dominated profession. In the video titled Lynn Johnson Women in Photojournalism, Johnson explains, “documenting womens issues feels like a responsibility as a woman photographer”. From this video, it is easy to see where Lynn Johnson gets her motivation and inspiration. Women photojournalists have faced serious scrutiny from male photojournalists and others throughout history. Johnson takes this disadvantage and uses it to portray the issues that women face around the world today.

Another photojournalist, Alex Webb, explains that motivation cannot revolve around the ability to earn a large salary from the images that are published. In an article posted on erickimphotography.com, Alex Webb states, "Photograph because you love doing it, because you absolutely have to do it, because the chief reward is going to be the process of doing it". The motivation to photograph should come from a passion deep within the person. Money and fame are not guaranteed to last a lifetime. A photograph is able to spark change in its viewer. If a photojournalist is able to focus on the passion and not the money or other accolades, there can be serious social reform to come of it. Ed Kashi explains advocacy journalism and its impact that it can have in an article titled, Ed Kashi and the Importance of Advocacy Journalism. This article shed light on the motivation of Ed Kashi. A photograph can inspire people and influence them, but do all of them actually create change? Ed Kashi states that he aims for his photography to, "inform viewers but also inspire them to find activist solutions to social problems". Kashi wants to see change created from his photography. His motivation does not come from money or accolades, but the ability to create social change. 

Photo by Alex Webb

Photo by unknown

One photojournalist documents the change in motivation and inspiration that occurred throughout her career. In the beginning of any career, it is easy to get caught up in the idea of increasing your salary. Also, if you are at the beginning of your photography career, you want to build your portfolio. A person might lose touch with what their original motivation was for taking photographs if they are simply trying to build their portfolio. Esther Havens is a photographer that focuses on the humanitarian side of the profession. In an article on dutiee.com, Havens explains that, " I was excited about the photo I took and how great it would look in my portfolio, I didn’t pay much attention to the child’s misery. I felt something terribly wrong about my attitude". This quote perfectly explains the problem that many photojournalists can face early in their career. However, this form of motivation can work for some photojournalists. Havens motivation switched. She focused more on the story's of individuals. Rather than just taking the picture to add to her portfolio, she wanted to know more about the person she was photographing. Similar to Havens, photographer Felix Masi is motivated by being able to tell other peoples stories and the struggles that other people were going through. In an interview video titled Kenyan Photojournalist, Masi states that, "I could see pain through my lens but then I could see hope through these people". Masi believed that he was helping people gain a voice and get their stories out through the photographs. In this sense, I believe that Havens and Masi have similar motivation. 

Photo by unknown

Photo by Esther Havens

There are many things that motivate me. My motivation stems from my family, money, happiness, and leaving an impact. I strive to make my family proud. I am finishing up my junior year in college and hope to attend law school after graduating. Education is extremely important in my family. My mother expected us to go to college and get our degrees because she did not do the same as soon as she should have. Another thing that motivates me is money. I am attending college to gain an education and help me secure a career. A college education allows a person to find a job that has a good salary. However, I do not think that money is one of my main motivators. Some photojournalists might strictly be motivated by money. However, others might focus more on leaving and impact and helping others. I outlined these two motivational factors on my motivation map. I think that they are very important in life. Some photojournalists seek to leave an impact with their photography and give voices to those who cannot be heard. 
Photo by Lyndsey Letourneau




Sunday, April 5, 2015

Photojournalism and Bias

Photo by Ed Clark

Principle 1: Subject's expression
The subject's expression is one of the main components of this image. He expresses pure sadness and there is a feeling of grief. There are tears rolling down his face that adds more emotion to the photograph. The man continues to play his accordion, even though he is visibly upset. It seems like playing the song was a duty. This is a candid shot of the individual. The body language fits the subject's facial expression. 

Principle 2: Is the image black & white or color?
The photograph is black & white. I think that the black and white adds to the image. It gives all of the attention of the audience on the main subject. If there was color, the eye of the viewer might wander around the image. I personally think that the photograph looks better as a black and white photograph. It does not need to be in color and I think that the color would take away from the photograph. 

Principle 3: What feelings does the image create?
This image creates a feeling of sadness. Also, there is a sense of loss created by the expression on the man. The fact that the man is crying helped create a feeling of despair and shows that the man is powerless in this situation. I think that this image grows on me. The more I look at the image, the more I begin to wonder what is truly happening to the man. Also, I question the expressions on the faces of the people behind the man. They do not seem to display the same amount of emotion towards the situation. 

The image above conveys very strong emotions. In the forefront of the photograph is an African American Navy officer playing an accordion. The man has tears streaming down his face as he looks forward. There are several people in the background of the photograph. All of the people seem to be expressing some type of negative emotion. One woman is crying. The other people in the picture seem to have a somber look on their faces. However, each of the other people in the background seem to be staring at the man, as if it is wrong for him to be crying. I found it interesting that there was only one African American man in the photograph and he is showing the most emotion out of everyone in the photograph. If the photograph was just of the African American man, it would give off a feeling of sadness. However, the people in the background add an element of confusion and uncertainty. In Professor Nordell's video on photojournalism and bias, Professor Nordell speaks of the illustration that was a rendition of the assassination attempt on Queen Victoria. Professor Nordell states that William Wordsworth felt that pictures in the press were not good and that "people who were fed a diet of pictures might forget important things like reading and writing". After completing further research on the image by Ed Clark, I discovered that the image was taken of a Navy CPO named Graham Jackson playing "Goin' Home" as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's lifeless body is taken from the Warm Springs Foundation after having a stroke. I pondered the quote from William Wordsworth after watching Professor Nordell's video. In this case, I think that the picture does not take away anything from anyone. I think that it displays raw emotion and lets people gain an understanding of the feelings presented during this tough time in American history. I think that pictures do not take away from reading and writing, but these photographs aid in gaining a better understanding and seeing situations from different points of view. 

The Great Depression was a very hard time for Americans. According to history.com, the Great Depression, "was the deepest and longest lasting economic downturn in the history of the Western industrialized world". The photography that was taken during this time attempted to depict the hardships of Americans during this time. In an article on medium.com, Donald Weber states that,"Photographers choose where their frame goes. They selectively choose what the audience will see, will believe". During Dorothea Lange's time photographing Americans that lived during the Great Depression, she attempted to portray the individuals just as they were and display the realistic nature of the Great Depression. She specifically chose to show the mother and child with blank expressions on their faces and dirty clothes. It looks like the family is struggling day by day. The Great Depression did not discriminate about the families that it affected. It affected everyone. Those who were employed lost their jobs and faced home foreclosure. Those who worked on a farm faced the Dust Bowl and most of the crops went unharvested. It was very hard for Americans to lead normal and healthy lives during this time. 

This photograph shows the truth to me. In an article on aarp.org, Patrick Kiger states that words can only do so much, but photographs, "often take hold of our hearts and reach us on a more primal emotional level". This photograph is full of emotion and triggers feelings of sadness in the viewer. The viewer can only imagine what the families had to go through during this extremely hard time. I think that most photographs of families during the Great Depression truly take hold of our hearts. The face of the mother is filled with hopelessness and she almost looks as if she has given up. The child is covered in dirt and has an expression of worry. The family is in a car and looks like they are on the move. During the Great Depression, families would pack up their belongings and search for work, which might be what this family was attempting to do. The family does not have much and desperately clings onto one another for support. I think that this photograph accurately displays the hard times faced by Americans during the Great Depression. 


Photo by Dorothea Lange

Principle 1: Obvious main subject
This photograph has two obvious main subjects. The mother and the child are the main focus of the image. The two take up the majority of the picture. There is not a lot of space for other things to be in the background of the photograph. The main subjects do not crowd the edges of the photograph, but take up just enough space to be considered the main subjects. 

Principle 2: Background compliments or detracts from composition
I believe that the background of this image compliments the composition. It looks like the mother and child are in a car. In the background of the image, you can see that there is a cardboard box and another child. The child is not fully shown in the image, so the child does not compete for attention with the two main subjects. The background is out of focus and becomes less clear. 

Principle 3: Does the image remind you of any work of art or photograph you have seen?
This photograph reminds me another photograph by Dorothea Lange titled "Migrant Mother". Both of the photographs were taken during the Great Depression. Both of the photographs are of a mother and a child. In both of the photographs, the mother looks like she is facing a struggle. I feel as if Dorothea Lange was looking to capture a feeling of despair and struggle by photographing families during the Great Depression. 

The second photograph that is displayed below does not show the truth in my opinion. I think that the main goal of the photography during the Great Depression was to show just how terrible life was for the people living during this time. The hardships were to be displayed through the photographs. I think that this photograph does not show how terrible the Great Depression was. This photograph could be used to show that even during hard times, there is still hope. However, I think that the first photograph has more truth to it. As stated in Professor Nordell's second video, the truth of a photograph "depends on the lens choice, angle, and what perspective you're trying to get across with your photograph". There are many aspects of a photograph that determine the level of truth. The lens choice and the angle do not determine much in this photograph. However, the perspective is important. Perspective is the way you see something. The way I see this picture is that it is a mother and a child laughing. Without knowing the time frame of the photograph, it can be difficult to understand what the photographer was trying to portray with this photograph. I think that the other photograph clearly displays what the photographer was trying to express. 

The two photographs were very interesting to view side by side. This photograph has both mother and child smiling. I pondered whether this photograph was staged or not. If this photograph wasn't staged, was the first photograph staged? There is no dirt on the child's face in the photograph below. The mother seems to be very happy and in high spirits. This photograph does not seem typical for that of a family during the Great Depression. Both photographs convey very different and opposite emotions, yet were taken at the same time. Either photograph could be seen as the truth or not the truth, depending on a person's opinion. As Shahidul Alam stated in the video posted by Conscious Action Network, "a story has many truths at many levels".  There is not just one opinion that is right regarding the truth of photojournalism. I think that the first photograph is more truthful because it shows the devastating nature of the Great Depression. 

After reading about the four ways of knowing in the article on toktalk.net, I believe that the reason I can determine which is the truth and which is not is because of language/authority. This means that the reason you know something is because someone who knows more than you told you or you read the information somewhere. My knowledge of the Great Depression was taught by teachers throughout middle school and high school. Also, any information that I did not learn from my teachers was learned from research on the internet or from books. I know that the Great Depression was one of the toughest times in America and it was not necessarily a time filled with much happiness. 

Photo by Dorothea Lange

Principle 1: Keep it simple
The composition of the photograph is simple. It is not cluttered. There are two main subjects that take up the majority of the photograph. Other than the two people, there is only a cardboard box in the background of the photograph. Everything else in the photograph is not distinguishable. I think this is helpful because the focus remains on the two people in the photograph. The viewers eye does not wander.

Principle 2: Use of lines
Although it is not very clear, the use of lines in the photograph help create the setting. The lines at the top of the photograph and the lines going down the left side of the photograph create the idea that the mother and child are in some type of vehicle. This makes it known that they are traveling to some place. The lines create a box around the mother and child, which keeps the viewers eye focused on the main subjects.

Principle 3: In or out of focus
The photograph is in focus. The main subject and background are in focus and do not seem slurry at all. The viewer is able to see texture on the jacket of the mother and can even read the words that are printed on the cardboard box. I think that it is good that this image is in focus. The image would become less clear and would lose some value if it was out of focus.