Atlas Steel Casting (Working People series) 1987

Milton Rogovin made this photograph, part of his "Working People series," using black and white film. It's about how the light falls, isn’t it? About what it reveals and what it obscures. Look at the surfaces here – the way the light gently grazes the walls, or the way it highlights the textures of clothing. Those stripes! Rogovin coaxes so much tonal variation out of seemingly simple contrasts. The photograph feels straightforward but has a rich range of grays. And the way it captures the family holding hands is everything. Rogovin's approach is rooted in a deep respect for his subjects, and you can feel that in every print. Think about how someone like Diane Arbus, another photographer, dealt with similar themes. Rogovin lacks her kind of edginess, and brings instead a tenderness and quiet observation to the work. It's a different way of seeing, one that invites you to slow down and really look.