France (Family of Miners series) 1981

This photo, "France," by Milton Rogovin, is from his "Family of Miners" series. It’s a black and white image. Rogovin's got this knack for getting right up close to his subjects, making you feel like you're standing right there with them. I wonder what it was like for him, setting up his shot, chatting with this miner, maybe feeling a bit of that shared grit and determination. Did they know each other beforehand? The composition seems simple, just the miner against a gritty door. The miner's got his headlamp on. And the scribbles on the door, "Local No. 3," give you a sense of community. Rogovin's work, like that of other social documentarians, reminds us that art can be a powerful tool for empathy and change.