Exercise : Analysing social documentary

Research at least two of the preceding photographers ..



LEWIS HINE

ANALYSING SOCIAL DOCUMENTARY

I have chosen two pictures to dicuss, one by Lewis Hine and the other by Jacob Riis.  Both pictures I like to look at.. and well the first one very familiar to me as I expect to many.

Lewis Hine was commissioned to photograph the building of the empire state building – my first thoughts are of how dangerous it all looks, my husband is in construction and the things they get up to are bad enough, but I don’t think they have had lunch balanced on a steel.

These pictures do as they say and really document the proceedings.  You feel like you are a part of it and it shows a proper insight.

The workmen having lunch are the subject of the picture, although so is the project as a whole the empire state building.  This is the context – this is the setting – which is very much part of the picture.

As I said before the photographer Lewis Hine was commissioned to do this.

Now did the workmen give their consent, I would say no as it may have been the photographer just saw this from afar and took the shot and they are all very relaxed and not looking at the camera.  However I’m sure they would have consented if asked but the picture may have had a much more staged look.

I feel this picture does have a ‘Hine’ feel about it and looking at the selection of pictures they have a similarity about them.  Most of them show a frieghteningly  lack of safety which makes you tummy churn.

The photograph is very successful  .. it is imfamous anyway but also shows the men relaxing having lunch in the most bizzare circumstances and is a comical juxtaposition.

I feel this picture is an example of social documentary as I feel its life events happening rather than a news event ( although the building of the Empire State would be a news event ) but I feel that these pictures are more about the workers.

The second picture ..  is by Jacob Riis – How the other half lives. – Bandits Roost. 1888.New York.

This book highlighted the conditions in the slums of New York – Riis was a photographer as a pasttime but also found it a useful tool when writing police reports on the New York slums – he was a successful police reporter.

The picture is in one of the dangerous alleys of New York, where all criminal activity took place.  The police would have accompanied the photographer on such outings and shoots so you wonder what the discussions would have been between them as to what they were trying to interpret from the photo .. There is a possibility that he was being paid as a reporter, although a large percentage was taken for his own self.

I feel the people did give their consent as they are all looking at the camera and also because of the long camera exposure you would have more movement in the image if they were not asked to stay still.  But mainly because they all look like they are participating.

I feel the photo does show the dirt and dinge, but maybe not how aggressive the people may have been .. or showing the danger.

These pictures were a social documentation of the situation and lives in the slums.

JACOB RIIS