Dorothea Lange

Dorothea Lange was quite an exceptional photographer. Her photos were inspiring and often filled the gazer with awe. A series that really caught my eye were the set of Migrant Mother pictures. She saw a young woman with several children in a lean-to tent just sitting on the side of the road, and immediately asked the woman to allow her to take pictures. Dorothea managed to capture the sorrow and hardship forced upon the family during the Great Depression. I felt, in a way, connected to the mother, because I could hardly imagine the terrible times that she had to go through, trying fruitlessly to provide for her family in a time when money was virtually nonexistant in the middle and lower classes.

The photos made me stop and think about all the things that Americans take for granted everyday. While many around the world do not even have enough food or clean water, we walk around all day texting, or listening to iPods, checking Facebook, or trying on our newest(fashionable) clothes for all our friends to see. Our lives seemed to be ruled by possessions, while others fight for life everyday. After thinking about the photos, I immediately became much more thankful for all that I am lucky enough to have.