Why did the world's first photographer take pictures of child labor change the fate of all child laborers?

Lewis wickes hine (1874) was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and was the first photographer who used photography to promote social change.

From 65438 to 0903, when he was teaching in new york Ethics and Culture School, he began to contact photography. As a teacher, he began to pay great attention to the life of American children at that time, because he often traveled with students. After witnessing the rampant child labor and the inhuman exploitation and abuse suffered by many children at that time, Hein decided to pick up the camera and record all this.

From 65438 to 0906, Hain began to work as a freelancer for the National Child Labor Committee, which opened the darkest and most suffocating hell door for Hain in American society. To this end, he traveled all over the eastern half of the United States. In order to capture the real scene and avoid the obstruction of the factory, Hein hid the camera in a lunch box and sneaked into the factory to find the phenomenon of child labor and slavery hidden in the dark.

1908, Hein became a photographer for the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC). In the era of 19 10, he recorded many records about the hard life of child labor and supported the American Committee on Child Labor by complaining to the government.

For many documentary photographers, the camera is not only a tool to express ideas and art, but also more important-it is a gear to promote social reform, and lewis hine is the leader who believes in this concept. Reality is cruel, and it takes not only hard work but also great courage to change it. Many photographers use the camera in their hands as a weapon and launch the most violent attack on social injustice and cruelty with the unique authenticity and intuition of photography.

At that time, there were 6.5438+0.7 million child workers working in factories, and the youngest was only 3 years old. As an investigator and photographer, he went deep into factories and mines all over the country to expose the poor working conditions of child laborers. Since the birth of photography, countless examples have proved that it can arouse human conscience and bring positive significance in reality. The photos of child labor taken by Lewis Hein shocked and made many contemporary Americans cry, which directly contributed to the abolition of child labor in the United States and other countries in the world.

His life tells the world that photography is not only used to capture the beautiful forms or magical light and shadow of those moments, but also to directly tell the audience the importance of social differences and changes while showing something worthy of praise and respect in the world.

Lewis Weixin Haien (65438+September 26th, 0874-1940-165438+1October 3rd) sixty-six. For him, the camera is not only a research tool, but also a gear to promote social reform.