"I have always been more interested in persons than in people."
—Lewis Hine
It took me a minute to parse his distinction. Of course, once you get it, you realize that photography itself is more interested in persons than in people, too. You can't meaningfully photograph a big political movement, but you can photograph one brave guy standing in the way of a tank; you can't photograph bad economic conditions, but you can photograph one worried woman with three dirty children in a pea-picker's camp. And so forth.
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Original contents copyright 2012 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.
Featured Comment by Hugh Look: "Reminds me of Jonathan Swift, who wrote (in a letter to Pope):
I have ever hated all nations, professions, and communities, and all my love is toward individuals...principally I hate and detest that animal called man, although I heartily love John, Peter, Thomas, and so forth. This is the system upon which I have governed myself many years....
Hine is, in my consideration, one of the greatest American photographers. Not only because of his incredible skill - one of the first to use flash - but because he was one of the earliest and strongest documentarians ever. His pictures of children working in slave-like conditions still hold up today and represent one of the greatest triumphs in photography. Using powerful photos to shed light on a great American injustice. It is shocking to know that he died penniless and in great debt and that his work was almost lost. Here is another wonderful quote: “With a picture sympathetically interpreted, what a lever we have for social uplift.”
Posted by: Ben Russell | Saturday, 14 April 2012 at 06:42 PM
Actually it is quite possible to photograph people. The problem is that the results aren't very appealing to look at.
Posted by: Jim Bullard | Saturday, 14 April 2012 at 08:07 PM
Took me more than a minute Mike, but I prefer your version. Quite sage!
Posted by: Dave P | Sunday, 15 April 2012 at 02:13 AM
I always thought that he said "I have always been more interested in parsons than people". No problem parsing that! Goff
Posted by: Goff | Sunday, 15 April 2012 at 06:20 AM
I'm with Mr Swift. Especially true of internet forums which show humanity at its worst, average and best in a single thread...
It's funny how the average blend out, the good encourage you to stay, but the ones you really remember are the idiots!
To be kind and famous takes rare genius. To be a bastard and famous takes no skill at all, which probably explains why its often the preferred method.
Posted by: Steve Jacob | Monday, 16 April 2012 at 02:39 PM