Aaron Arbuckle
Ms. K
AWG 3OI-02
Social Reform, Photojournalism
Safety Laws / Working Conditions
Born Sept. 26, 1874 in Oshkosh Wisconsin
Studied sociology in Chicago and New
York (1900-1907)
Taught at Ethical Culture School, NY and encouraged students to use photography in education
Hine took classes to Ellis Island where many immigrants arrived daily (1904-09)
Ellis Island Photographs
Lewis Hine, ITALIAN FAMILY IN
FERRYBOAT LEAVING ELLIS
ISLAND, 1905
Lewis Hine, CLIMBING INTO AMERICA, 1908
Hine Realized his vocation was photojournalism
1908 published
Collection of photographs of tenements and sweatshops
Lewis Hine,
MIDNIGHT AT THE GLASSWORKS,
1908
Hine wanted to
“Exert the force to right wrongs.”
1909 Hine was employed as investigator and photographer
Wanted to change the child labour laws; helped with two books:
(1909) and
(1909)
"Perhaps you are weary of child labour pictures. Well, so are the rest of us, but we propose to make you and the whole country so sick and tired of the whole business that when the time for action comes, child labour pictures will be records of the past."
Travelled 12,000 miles in one year taking photos of child labour in factories
One of the only artists not exaggerating work; felt the truth would have enough impact. Critics felt this was not shocking enough.
Denied permission to enter factories, impersonated fire inspector
Six members of Slebzak family in field, five of whom are working on Bottomley's farm near Baltimore, Maryland.
Lewis Hine, Photographic print.
1909 July.
Boy sweeper, wearing knickers, standing alongside carding machine in Lincoln
Cotton Mills, Evansville,
Indiana. Lewis Hine,
Photographic print. 1908
Oct.
Hine’s boss, Owen Lovejoy said the work Hine did helped bring attention to the public
In 1916, Congress passed legislation restricting children under 14 from working
Joined Red Cross
Photographed the living conditions of
French and Belgian civilians suffering from the impact of the war.
In 1919 he published
1920’s Hine joined campaign for better safety laws for workers
1930-32 Hine photographed Empire State
Building construction
Many photos of workers in dangerous positions securing iron and steelwork
To get best vantage points, Hine went out in a basket 1,000 feet above Fifth Avenue
Lewis Hine, RAISING THE EMPIRE STATE
BUILDING, 1932
Lewis Hine, LUNCH TIME AND SMOKE, 1931
Lewis Hine, ICARUS A TOP
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, 1930
Gelatin Silver Print, 18.7 x 23.7 cm
Beginning in 1936, Hine studied changes in industry and the effect on employment
He was the chief photographer
His work was left unfinished, on November
3, 1940 Lewis died after an unsuccessful operation
The Library of Congress holds many including examples of his child labour and
Red Cross photographs.
Nearly ten thousand of Hine's photographs and negatives are kept at the George
Eastman House
Many photographs are also at the Albin O.
Kuhn Library & Gallery of the University of
Maryland, Baltimore County.
He used the 4x5 Graflex since 1920
Initially he used a 5x7
Graflex view camera requiring him to set up a rickety tripod, focus the camera, pull the slide, and dust his flash pan with powder,
Before taking a photo.
5x7 View Camera
A social movement to change certain aspects of society such as terrible labour conditions, child labour and immigrant conditions.
Change the world through photographs
Photography used to impact the minds of people
Another photographer is Dorothea Lange
“Lewis Hine: Biography,” Spartacus Educational, John
Simkin, accessed Wednesday Jan 11, 2012, http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/IRhine.htm
“Lewis Hine,” Wikipedia, accessed Jan 11, 2012, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Hine
Szarkowski, John. Looking at Photographs
Museum of Modern Art, 1976.
. New York: The
Rosenblum, Walter, Trachtenberg, Allan, et. al. America and
Lewis Hine: Photographs, 1904-1940.
Aperture, 1997.