1. This image is a portrait of a child
working in a factory. This
photograph was taken by Lewis
Hine. It is an historical photograph,
trying to raise the profile of child
labour in the early 1900’s. He used
the plate camera and probably
used a tripod to keep the image in
the correct position. The camera
angle is positioned at waist level.
There is no shutter speed, he has
uses aperture because he has
controlled the amount of the light
that passes into his camera. The
exposure appears normal as there
does not appear to be too much or
too little light. I think it is low contrast as it has a wide range of the brightness. The image has been
developed as monochrome; there will have only been black and white or monochrome during this
period. There was no digital manipulation. A shallow depth of field has been used to blur the front of
the image. It is representational image because it is being used to represent a period in history. His
images remind me of the images taken by Dorothea Lange, who took images of the Great
Depression. She was also trying to represent a time in history through her photographs. For the
composition he has used leading lines, symmetry, and framing. The leading lines are straight,
focusing your eye towards the subject from the front to the back of the image. The symmetry of the
image is creating balance and proportion. The lighting used appears to be natural sunlight shining
through the large, high windows. It appears that the light is bouncing off the machinery onto the girl.
The light also draws your eye to the very back of the image where the light is at its brightest. It is quite
harsh lighting; nothing has been done to soften the image, adding to the feel of photograph and the
theme of the image. The light also makes the photograph appear three dimensional. I really like this
photograph because it really allows you to get a sense of how the young child was feeling. It shows
the contrast of the size and harshness of the machinery next to the small child. You are left with a
feeling of sadness for the difficulties of this young child’s life. Lewis Hine was trying to demonstrate
how wrong child labour was, that these young children did not belong in these places.