On page 192-193 of the book New Deal Photography, a black-and-white photograph spreads across the entire page, portraying children playing on the back of a truck. At first glance, certain elements of the photograph are immediately visible. For instance, the children and the way they are positioned in relation to each other and the surroundings can be easily observed. Three children are in the middle of the photograph, while the other two are placed further back. Because the photograph is focused towards the children, the clothing of the children is also immediately visible even with the absence of color. It can be observed without difficulty that the girl is wearing a mid-long checkered collar dress and a pair of white sneakers. The boy sitting at the further front is wearing a short-sleeve shirt with a pair of shorts with a belt, while the boy sitting behind him is wearing a long-sleeve shirt and a pair of jeans, which were a widely used fabric in the contemporary society. The facial expressions of the children can also be easily examined as they are smiling directly to the camera.
As I continue to examine the photograph more carefully, less obvious elements start to emerge. For instance, more details can be observed in regards to the background of the photograph. In the background, there are cars on a paved road with one side lined with trees. The background comes out blurry because the focus of the photograph is put to the three children at the front. This also suggests that this photograph was taken mainly to capture the moments of the children. Other details also emerge as I further examine the photograph. For instance, the dirt on the boy’s knee suggests that the boy is an active, playful child, while the smudge on the white shoes of the girl suggests that they are a pair often worn by the girl. The sunlight seems to be evenly distributed since shadows are not particularly tilted to one side within the photograph. Further examination of the photograph leads me to the analysis of the facial expressions and poses of the children. The bright smiles of the two boys suggest that they are in delight and are enjoying their time together when the photo was taken. The subtle smile of the girl portrays her as a more mature and quiet girl who is nonetheless also having a pleasant time.
