Photographers - Lewis Hine, Ansel Adams and William Klein

Lewis Hine

I particularly like this photograph by Lewis Hine because of the emotion shown through the boy's eyes. It is a really honest, genuine photo showing the feelings of just one of the many children who were working in the cotton mills. Having his eyes right in the centre of the frame means they are the first thing you notice and because he is looking directly into the camera, it feels as if he is looking right at you and explaining his life in one still shot. The connection you feel with this little boy who you know nothing about is what I think makes this photograph so significant.

 

Ansel Adams

The sense of the atmosphere is very successful in this image of Ansel Adams'. The mist covering the background with only the sunset visible creates a spooky and slightly dull feel which is exaggerated by the fact that no-one is around. The mist also makes the silhouette of the tree stronger as there is nothing to detract from it. Having the image in black and white helps make this photo more memorable and effective too because again it adds to the calm but eerie atmosphere which is what I like so much about the photograph.

 

William Klein

I especially like the composition in William Klein's photograph. It is unusual because the top of the child's head on the swing is chopped off and the other child in the bottom right corner is only just in the frame. I think this makes the photograph much more interesting to look at because it isn't how I'd expect a photograph to be composed yet it is still successful. I also like the way that because the child on the swing's eyes aren't in the photograph, you can't quite tell if they're enjoying it or not meaning the other child's face could then have various meanings too. This is a very natural snapshot of these children's lives and although we haven't got the exact story behind it, I like the way that everyone could take it in slightly different ways.