Henry Lotz at the Midway City Dairy Association Cooperative, near Santa Ana, California  1937

Dorothea Lange captured Henry Lotz at the Midway City Dairy Association Cooperative, near Santa Ana, California, using photography's unique way of marking time and place. The photograph's palette is all about subtle shifts in gray, each tone carefully chosen to build form and mood. Look at how the light delicately defines Henry’s face, etching out the deep lines of his brow and the way his glasses sit. The texture of his shirt, you can almost feel the rough weave of the fabric through Lange's lens. The shadow cast by Henry’s hand, as he shields his eyes, is particularly striking. It’s a dark slash against the lighter tones of his face, creating a dramatic contrast that pulls you in. It reminds me a little of Walker Evans's work, the way he used straightforward composition to capture the dignity and resilience of everyday people.