Untitled, Shenango Ingot Molds (Working People series) 1978 - 1981

This is an image by Milton Rogovin from his Working People series. It's a black and white photograph. Look at the way the dark background pushes the figures forward. This feels like a snapshot but it’s so carefully balanced, tonally. The picture plane is mostly filled by the two figures of laborers wearing helmets and goggles and the opening to a mold. The photograph is cropped in such a way that we are forced into an intimate closeness with the men. You can see every mark and streak of dirt on their clothing and gear. It’s a picture of work, and the way the light falls makes you feel like you are right there with them. Rogovin, like Dorothea Lange, makes you feel like you’re a witness. Even though the photograph is black and white, the light is so effective in conveying the scene. Their faces are hidden, but the photograph speaks volumes about labor and humanity.