MIGRANT MOTHER by DORTHEA LANGE: My favorite part of this photo is related to how it almost never happened. The story I read was as follows: Lange was tired, she drove by the sign for pea pickers and did not stop. She kept on going but it bothered her that she had not made pictures, the thought of a missed opportunity kept eating at her. She made excuses in her mind, she thought, I am tired, it has been a long day, it will rain soon. She made up every excuse not to turn around and go back and make pictures. Then she dug deep, TURNED AROUND, went back and made one of the most iconic images in the history of photography, the greatest photograph of her career. The moral? Work your ass off folks, be completely committed, chase down the photos even when your exhausted and have excuses not to shoot. Only then, only when you give it your all, only when you work your tail off, will the great imagery come! I often think of Lange when I am making pictures and tired, she is an inspiration.
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| Migrant Mother by Dorthea Lange |
Note* Dorothea Lange (1895-1965) FSA photograph shows Florence Thompson (1903-1983) with several of her children in a photograph known as "Migrant Mother". The Library of Congress caption reads: "Destitute pea pickers in California. Mother of seven children. Age thirty-two. Nipomo, California.” Made in March 1936.
