May 26, 1895 – October 11, 1965
Dorothea Lange has been called the greatest documentary photographer. She took many photos during the time of the Great Depression and migratory farm workers. She was very influential and greatly helped the development of documentary photography during the Depression era. She was originally named Dorothea Margaretta Nutzhorn and due to many issues within her family, she dropped her middle name and took on her mothers maiden name. She learned about photography in Columbia University. She documented the unemployed and homeless which got many other photographers interested as well.
Her works being based during the Depression era, were all rather dark and showed the hardships of the people. She took pictures of the unhealthy conditions. She showed the desolation and problems that farmers faced. Although her pictures were full of sadness, it showed everyone doing what they could in order to survive. She shows the peoples loss and how worn out they were. I feel that her work is very quiet, natural and serious. It shows the feelings and pains that everyone has gone through. Many are unaware of the photos taken and are shown naturally in their own environment.
Her photos show me that we shouldnt take everything that we have for granted. That at one point in time people were doing everything they could just to get by. They used their blood and sweat to try to create an environment that would be suitable for their children, their future to survive in. It shows me that even if we are living a comfortable life, there are many others that dont have the luxuries we do. Her photos really show us the harshness and reality.
