Ben Stahn's photograph displays the interaction between three cotton pickers - one man and two women. At the forefront of the photograph is the first woman who stands with her body facing away from the camera,but face toward us. Her eyes are averted, almost as if she doesn't want her picture taken. It's through her trying to hold back a little smile and irresistible facial expressions that we can see she most assuredly wants her picture taken. Self-conscious might be at the top of ways she feels clothes in her raggedy dress, with her cotton picking bag tied across the front of her body.
The man to the left of her carries a nonchalant pose: one stand resting on his hip, while the other supports him as he learns against the wall. His eyes are looking directly at you and his face says, "Take my picture, don't take my picture. I'm just here to do the job."
In the back right of the photograph, we see the third subject. This older women stands with her back toward us, the most unapproachable. Her neck is turned so we can see her taking a glance at the scene occurring behind her. I can almost hear her saying, "Crazy kids! What are doing, letting them taking your picture?" As the oldest, a sort of mother figure, she feels a responsibility to protect them.
I felt the most connected to this photograph as it allowed me an inside view into the every day life occurrences that some people during the 1930's had to endure. I can't imagine having to wake up every single morning, ready to be out picking cotton by 6:30 a.m. As this group three stands in their symmetrical triangle of three, I couldn't help but see that they would all be there to support each other if need be. They all share in the struggles of life together through this job. I also enjoyed the woman in front who seemed unsure about getting her picture taken. I myself have done the, "No, don't take my picture I look awful!...well if you insist." She made me smile.
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