1. LEWIS HINE
BY: KARLA MORALES
Photo by: Mornings on Maple Street
Image Source:
https://morningsonmaplestreet.com/2014/11/26/le
wis-hine/
2. CAREER
• Hine was first exposed to the harsh conditions of children laborers when he worked as a janitor at a
bank for a brief period of time. He decided to leave that career and peruse teaching were he was then
introduced to photography. After being the school’s photographer and attending classes in photography
Lewis Hine was hired as a freelance photographer for the National Child Labor Committee. Hine saw
photography as a platform to expose the truth. He would go to work places that held child laborers and
would disguise himself in order to take images of the harsh conditions in which these children were
forced into. His images were published in magazines, pamphlets, books, slide lectures, and traveling
exhibitions. The purpose of his work was to draw the publics and governments attention to this ethical
problem. Lewis Hine also took images During WW1, the empire state building, women and the
depression.
3. ERA
• Lewis Hine began his work in 1905 when child labor was a major issue in the United States. Young
children were forced to work in dangerous conditions in which their lives were at risk. These children
were tiny enough to reach their limbs into equipment that could possibly rip them off and were
extremely underpaid for it. He covered a lot of main issues that were occurring around this time period
like World War1. During the 1900s printing and flash powder were introduced to photojournalists.
Flash powder allowed photojournalists to be able to take images indoor. However, photojournalists
during this time frame did not like this advancement that allowed the public to also be able to take
images.
4. MOTIVATION
• Lewis Hine first become motivated with photojournalism when he was asked to be his school’s
photographer and photograph images of students lives. He soon realized that images are powerful and
tell a story. Hine then decided to advance his skills and studies within the field. He specifically wanted
to expose the harsh conditions in which child laborers worked in even with a few laws in place. In an
article by National Archives they write, “ Hine believed that if people could see for themselves the
abuses and injustice of child labor, they would demand laws to end those evils”. He decided to put his
life at risk in order to get actual images of this issue to draw in the publics attention.
5. TECHNOLOGY
• Lewis Hine used a Graflex camera known as the Crown View. This camera was compactable and easily
accessible allowing photojournalists to either carry the camera on a strap or tripod. It allowed for some
movement in order to focus in one the image being shot. In order to take a horizontal or vertical image
you had to manually switch lenses. The ground glass back allowed photojournalist to be able to view
their images before it being processed into film.
• This video below provides information about the Crown Graflex camera .
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bysxmbXd1ys
6. ETHICS
• While taking photos of the child laborers Hine had to disguise himself in order to not be caught. It was
forbidden to take these images since these owners wanted to hide the truth from the public. He would
have to lie to factory owners telling them he was there to photograph machinery when in reality he
was sneakily taking images of the child workers through their permission. An issue Lewis faced was the
flash of his camera going off which meant he only had one opportunity to capture the perfect image
that would not only depict the truth but displayed the child’s emotions as well.
7. BIAS
• Lewis Hine was a social reformist and documentary photojournalist. He wanted to show the world the
flaws in laws at the time since nothing was being done about the child workers. He used his platform to
bring awareness on topics he sought needed more recognition. However, the issue of child labor was a
mainstay with Hine and he was not going to stop until something was done about it. He himself was a
child worker once his father died when he was 18, so this topic struck a huge cord for him.
8. IMPACT
• Through his photos of the child laborers and talking to them and their families Hine was able to show
the public and government the truth. This led to the establishment of strict child labor laws that ended
child labor. He also showed the world the hard work of laborers when he took images during the world
war 1 and the building of the empire state building. He showed how photojournalists can make a
difference and bring change through images.
9. HOW DOES LEWIS HINE RELATE TO MY MAJOR?
• I am a nursing major and like Lewis Hine I want to be able to make a difference. He drew his attention
to protecting children just like I do with wanting to become a pediatric nurse. I hope that one day I a can
be remembered for my impact on some ones life. I bet Lewis Hine made a huge impact on the lives of
the child he photographed since he ended their suffering and saved many others.
10. HOW WAS LEWIS HINE VIEWED
• Lewis Hine is highly viewed and recognized for changing the way of photojournalism and the lives of
children. However, it was not until later that society truly appreciated his work but it was too late. Hine
faced hardships and had to go on welfare after interest for his work started to come to an end. He
passed away in 1940 with his work displayed in a museum to be remember and display the hardships of
his era.
11. Photo by: Lewis Hine
Image Source:
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/hine-
dust.htm
• Rule of thirds: Everyone is in shot in this
photo. Lewis Hine made share you could
see all of the young boys working in the
factory while being supervised. The image
captures the viewers attention at every
angle.
• In or out of focus: It is hard to make out
the back of this photo however I think that
is partially due to the type of camera used.
The front portion of the image is clear and
precise you can what the young boys are
doing in the first row. I think if the
photographer were able to use a camera
from today that could take this image
much more clearer and in color the story
would make much more of an impact.
• Black and white: This image being in black
and white sets a certain tone. When
looking at this photo I feel sympathetic for
the young children. The lack of color
brings my attention to focus more on the
details in the image.
12. Photo by: Lewis Hine
Image source:
https://www.archives.gov/educat
ion/lessons/hine-photos
13. Feelings this image creates: When looking at this picture I can tell everyone is
determined to get their work done. They are bunched together in one area of the
room appearing unpleased. In the background you can see older men working,
which to me signifies that they have to work in order to provide for their family,
maybe the are the only source of income.
Depth of field: The image is focused towards the right were all of the subjects
are located. It is hard to see the people who are in the back and closer to the
window. All of my attention is more focused on the front of the image were I can
see the subjects who are much clearer and lighter.
Quality of Light: The lighting in this photo is very poor. There are areas of both
light and dark with white spots due to the suns reflection through the window. If
the photographer and utilize the light better maybe the photo wouldn’t have
came out that way and would appear lighter.
15. • Obvious main subject: The little boy is the only main subject in the image
being placed right in the middle. The background in the way back is blurry so
all of your attention is on him. There are no distractions or busyness
occurring around the photo.
• Keep it simple: This is a very simple image compared to Lewis Hine’s other
work of children in factories and mills. This little boy is shoeless in the street
by himself probably trying to sell newspapers to make some profit. All of your
attention is drawn to him and his appearance creating strong emotions since
he is obviously very young.
• Reminds You of Any work : This image reminds me of the mother with her
children during the great depression photographed by Dorothea Lange. For
some reason to me their faces correlate in expressions since they both appear
distraught and their clothing detect struggle.
16. Photo by: Lewis Hine
Image Source:
https://leemorleyncscreative.wordpres
s.com/2012/12/02/lewis-hine/
17. Use of lines: The background behind the main subjects is curved bringing your
attention to the way the photo was taken. When I look at this image I am drawn into
the curvature of the back rather than the boys at first glance.
Subject’s Expression: The young boy with the broom in his hand seems sad as if he is
crying while sweeping. The man behind him clearly posing for the picture looking at
the camera dead center with a blank expression which is hard to read. It is hard to
make out if he is also a worker or is watching these boys do their job.
Keep it simple: This image has quite a bit going on within it. Viewers are drawn into
the two young boys in the back, the two in the front, the box of nails and the shelving
behind the subjects. However it is still clean cut and clear even with the boys being
blurry a bit.
