Wales, Ben James, First Cigarette 1953

"Wales, Ben James, First Cigarette" is a black and white photograph by Robert Frank, taken in 1953. The image depicts a man, likely a coal miner, sitting in a dimly lit room, holding a cigarette. The composition emphasizes the man's stoic posture and the harshness of his environment, highlighting the working class lives of rural Wales. Frank's candid approach captured the raw realities of everyday life in a manner typical of his signature "The Americans" photobook. This photograph, along with his other works, helped shape the direction of photojournalism and documentary photography in the 20th century.