Appalachia (Working People series) 1981

This photograph by Milton Rogovin, part of his “Working People” series, feels like a snapshot of a particular time and place. The stark black and white emphasizes the textures; the woman’s big hair, the dog's curly fur, the wood-paneled wall. The light in this image is what strikes me the most. It’s diffused, almost flat, but it reveals everything, doesn't hide anything. It's a portrait but it's also so much more, it’s about the woman's relationship with her pet, but also about her environment. Look at the dark lines used to create the dramatic make-up she is wearing, compared to the shadow lines made by the wood panelling behind. I am reminded of other photographers like Diane Arbus, who also had a knack for capturing these intimate moments. Rogovin's work celebrates the everyday, finding beauty and dignity in the ordinary lives of working people.