Analysis of Child Labor in Photographs Research Paper

Analysis of Child Labor in Photographs - Research Paper Example The first photo is that of a young boy working as a garbage picker. This was taken Mexico in the year 1996. The second photo is of two young girls pictured outside a brick factory, taken on 9thof February 2002. Pictures do not have the power to tell people how to think but they direct them on what to think about. This means that they have the power to make something the center of focus. Another important aspect of pictures is that they are able to achieve a high conviction of power. This is because they are able to appeal to the innermost part of a human being and cause them to demand that justice is granted to the oppressed. In order to achieve greater convincing power and emotional impact, Lewis Wickes Hine capitalizes on the facial expressions of his subjects as seen in the pictures of children fetching wood scraps to be used at the brick factory. The most striking detail in the Kabul picture is the faces of the children featured as they express emotional suffering and exhaustion. The innocent children without a doubt are tired of the kind of work they have to do to make ends meet. They are clearly unhappy at face. The work that they have to do is heavy and especially so considering that the location at which they are working looks desolate. The picture shows the child at the background having a face contorted possibly due to exhaustion and helplessness. A closer look reveals that the child is weeping; possibly wiping her tears. Both the children are dressed in a manner that clearly defines their state of poverty. The children walk with their heads focused on the ground. This shows how downcast they are. This is justified given the fact that other children of their ages are in school or at least playing together somewhere. Between the two girls, the younger is weary to an extent that she is not even able to keep up with the walking pace of her sister. The garbage picker’s face reveals a shade of sorrow even though his face is focused on the photograph er. He is clearly tired, possibly having worked a long time searching in the garbage. He works in a place where all around is garbage. His merchandise therefore comprises pieces of waste material. Both of his hands tightly hold whatever treasures he has retrieved from the garbage pit. The garbage picker carries a box on his back, an item that clearly is big for a person his size. He seems to be helpless and hopeless going by his facial expression. What is evident in both pictures is the depiction of children subjected to child labour and the effect this has on the emotional wellbeing of the victims.