The FORBIDDEN PHOTOGRAPHY of Dorothea Lange!

#dorothealange #photographer #photobooks #documentaryphotography
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anchoreditions.com/blog/dorot...
00:00 Intro & contextualisation
02:30 The Importance of these photos
05:55 To be Objective or to not be objective
08:07 Conclusions
Footage
• This Man Filmed Life I...
Copyright disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research.
Under this guidance, I’ve created content which is guided towards the education, celebration and promotion of said photographs and photographers who have contributed immensely to the art of photography.
An effort is made by the presenter, verbally and through the usage of links (in the video’s description) to encourage the audience to explore the work presented beyond the video and engage with said content through books, articles and relevant links to each photographer’s own social media.
Therefore, I believe the inclusion of said images, footage and other sources can overall add depth and appreciation for the subject of the video whilst also enriching the visuals and dynamics of the it. All within what is within the fair use scope and KZbin’s policies.
The Forbidden Photography of Dorothea Lange!
by Tatiana Hopper
March 2023

[@TatianaHopper]

📍 Would you like more videos on Dorothea Lange? Or her contemporaries Evans, Adams…

[@artemisXsidecross]

👍

[@Resgerr]

Yes please

[@mid90s75]

Yes 🙌

[@fraggleroks]

definitely!

[@jarit_1495]

Yes please

[@alanescalante1]

I just passed by Nipomo, the small town in California where Dorothea’s most famous photograph of the mother with migrant children was taken. Thank you for making this video. I had almost forgotten about this period Of her photography. I’ve always loved her work and greatly appreciate everything she did. You always do a fantastic job with these videos. They are always a treat to watch

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much Alan! Really appreciate it and what a coincidence thank you for watching!

[@jeromebarry1739]

W. Eugene Smith. One of the best documentary photographers of the 20th century. It would be nice to see some of his work featured.

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you for the suggestion, will do!

[@davidwoods80]

Let me get this straight.... Lange had the content of her photos suppressed by the people who were paying her, and Tatiana has the content of her videos suppressed by KZbin, who pay her.... some things never change. Reminds me of the good ol' Golden Rule: He who has the gold, makes the rules.

[@TatianaHopper]

You said it all David! Appreciate you! Cheers for watching!

[@TL-xw6fh]

The world has gone all potty. One day, we will not even be allowed to watch this video!

[@Ralf_Baron]

Thank you, Tatjana! Great job introducing and commenting on Dorothea Lange this way. Love it. And would like to see more of it

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you Ralf!

[@vespitts1653]

Excellent subject to bring up. Dorthea Lange is truly an inspiration to many photographers. When we forget what the power of a single image can evoke. She reminds us. Thank You.

[@TatianaHopper]

Absolutely! Agreed 💯 with that she is a powerful and positive example!

[@ryantanakaphoto]

I believe her photos of soldiers holding rifles were immediately impounded. This was not the narrative the government wanted portrayed. Also, she knew the power of putting children in photos. She took one of my great grandfather with his two children and one of just him. My mother was born in San Bruno; the horse stalls that you see at 7:29. The race track was being used as temporary holding area, since the camps hadn’t been full constructed yet. Some time later, my mother would be shipped off to Topaz, Utah.

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much for sharing that Ryan! I’m sorry your family and many others had to experience that, wishing you all the best! 🙏🏻🤍

[@ledesclos5321]

Yes, more Dorothea Lange, captivating photos. Thank you for your reviews, so good.

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much 🙏🏻

[@kalengankonge6763]

Love your videos. Some of the best videos on photography on KZbin. I love how you simply focus on the art and artists of photography. Please keep up with this great work🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 - from a photographer in Zambia🇿🇲

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much Kalenga! All the best!

[@gcwalther]

This was truly a terrible event in history. Thank you for sharing Dorothea's work and point of views

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you for watching and yes it was a bizarre turn of events.

[@filmic1]

Thanks for mentioning Don McCullen. I just finished MOMA's 'Seeing Through Photographs via Coursera.'

[@magicnutcracker]

Yes, please! More Dorothea! Her photographs, were for me also, the main inspiration when I fell in love with photography.

[@jenohogan9254]

The same thing happened in Vancouver (as it did anywhere in N.America). My best friends Grandfathers family lost everything and were never compensated when they were released. It left a big scar on his soul. He was just a kid. 😞

[@TatianaHopper]

So sad! Didn’t know it happened in Canada as well thank you for letting sharing that info Jen and cheers for watching!

[@artemisXsidecross]

Thank you, Dorothea Lange and Robert Frank have and still do have an enormous influence on how I see the world. I liked your essay and comment too. 👍

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting!

[@v2gbob]

Great video, thanks! And, indeed, more Dorothea Lange! I live near Manzanar. Have gone there many times. It breaks my heart as a former civil rights activist. The Manzanar Committee, based in Los Angeles, will be holding the 54th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage to the Manzanar National Historic Site on Saturday, April 29, 2023, for those who maybe interested. I try to go each year (but am going to miss this year). There are still many elderly people who attend who were interned at the camp as children. It is heart breaking.

[@SingtotheMountainStudio]

An amazing telling of a complex happening T.Hopper! Thank you for the depth, time and effort to tell this in such a way. Thank you also for calling out challenges for you to tell a complete story. Peace out!

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it! Peace ✌🏻

[@chrisloomis1489]

HEART MOUNTAIN , relocation camp the steam plant still stands, North of Cody , Wyoming. I lived up there 1980's and the " bench " is a cold damned place in the wintertime , and like Dorothea Lang , my Father was crippled by Polio , for 2 years , unable to speak. Tough times the 1930's . Oh .. today I got my first Leica , an M3 .. I am 62 years young. 🙏🏻 Dad only had an ARGUS , but he loved that thing. 😊

[@jwashington]

Love the discussion of framing, objectivity and point of view in this. We often are asked to draw conclusions based on 20sec clips. Can be even harder at 1/200th Excellent video!

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much!

[@Joseph_Greco]

Great vid! 👍 She's an icon on so many levels. Spent her later years here in Marin County. Hope you do a vid on another giant...W. Eugene Smith, icon of photojournalism. ✌😎

[@TatianaHopper]

Oh man I’ve been working on that W. Eugene Smith incoming been trying to find one of his books too but it’s so hard! Cheers for watching Joseph!

[@Joseph_Greco]

@@TatianaHopper There are some good quality used copies on Amazon at reasonable prices

[@sweetjane5033]

Despicable! This country doing this to the Japanese! She was so strong to document this atrocitie!

[@michaelacedeno]

Had the privilege of seeing her work at the Margulies Collection in Miami, absolutely incredible work. Thank you for sharing this!

[@TatianaHopper]

Thanks for watching appreciate it!

[@abchappell01]

This video is a very powerful presentation. It had me totally engaged physically, mentally, and emotionally from beginning to end. This is one of your best works I have had the opportunity to experience. And yes, please give us more discussions about Dorothea Lange and her photography 😊

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much Anthony really appreciate it!

[@confrontingphotography4815]

“Objective” is a difficult word, especially in this context. I’d suggest that we have different types of subjectivity but objectivity can’t be achieved in any real sense, and may not be desirable anyway. I’m currently editing a project I shot a few months ago at the Topaz interment camp, there is almost nothing left of that site, so while shooting I was continuously aware of the need to conform myself to the site and how subjective that process was. I am also struck by the ways photos of these places miss a lot of nuances on one hand, while presenting other nuances that would be hard to attach significance to if one has not visited these sites. Lang’s work around the internment was admirable for sure but like most historical photos, by necessity, they show us very little, and we have no way of knowing what we are missing. The fact that the photos were censored makes it even worse. Anyway, that’s enough random musings, thanks for the video.

[@lensman5762]

She along with Ansel Adams were the only two photographers whom fully documented the injustice that was done to these American people, only because of their ancestory. Her most famous photograph of the migrant mother ( these women were not foregin but American who had migrated West dring the great depression ) also highlights the sordid state of affairs that existed in the US at the time. Quite often, another man would offer to ' look after ' these women in exchange for ' favours ', while their men were away seeking work. There is no equivalent of the likes of Lange and Adams these days, sadly, atleast none that I know of. Another great choice of photographer to highlight, Tatiana. Thank you.

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting I appreciate it and yes Lange was a remarkable example of tenacity, powerful imagery and much more.

[@richardrizzo_photography]

Lange produced some powerful images from such a sad time in history. Great video Tatiana.

[@TatianaHopper]

Absolutely you’re right cheers Rich!

[@ernestthomas9406]

I was familiar with her work but never dug deep enough to know about this collection of her work, thanx much for opening my eyes to this side of her

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you for tuning in!

[@andyfarmer2661]

Your videos keep getting better. Bravo.

[@TatianaHopper]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@wenziledube]

Always learning with your videos, appreciate your love for sharing

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@mid90s75]

Didn’t know more details about these events so it was interesting to learn more, cheers!

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@OneMonthTwoCameras]

I've been an ardent fan of Lange's for a long time and visited Manzanar to view what she had documented with her camera. If you ever need a good read, I highly recommend the biography on her called A LIFE BEYOND LIMITS. She remains one of my most formidable inspirations.

[@TatianaHopper]

Damn I didn’t know about this book so I will get it thank you for the recommendation! Appreciate it!

[@darryljungen8307]

I've read a lot about Dorothea Lange. I love what she represents in photography. I would really enjoy watching a video that you put together. Keep up the great, meaningful work. I live in Boise, Idaho and we too had an internment camp. I've been there to take photos and it is very difficult to see, but very important. Thanks again, Big fan in Boise.

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much Darryl! Really appreciate it and what a coincidence I did see there were more camps spread across America not just California but don’t know if anyone ever documented them like Lange did.

[@joseerazevedo]

Ansel Adams did many essays in Manzanar, between 43 and 44. He published a book at the time - Born Free & Equal. Very interesting work

[@ryantanakaphoto]

Yes, Ansel shot quite a bit at Manzanar and had a similar outlook as Dorothea.

[@TatianaHopper]

That’s right and I saw some of his images maybe I could talk about it in a different video :)

[@joseerazevedo]

@@TatianaHopper that'd be great! Maybe a comparision of the two visions on the same subject. Cool!

[@RebeccaKowalskyPhoto]

As usual, your videos are inspiring and educational. Thank you and yes, I would love more on DOrthea Lange

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much Rebecca!

[@RebeccaKowalskyPhoto]

tip of the iceberg@@TatianaHopper

[@TatianaHopper]

Agreed!

[@trifin5772]

I really appreciate your channel and the hard work you put it. I am learning a lot. I enjoy Japanese photography. Can I suggest a video on masahisa fukase? He was a master of photography and had an interesting life. There is a book coming out in Japan covering his life’s work, might be ideal? Please let me know if you need details, Japanese books can be hard to source. Thanks again, you’re a star!

[@cinnamon--girl]

Thank you for this video. Please do more with Dorthea Lange! Hello from Florida 🌴

[@TatianaHopper]

Greetings to sunny Florida! Cheers for watching and Roger that!

[@zachminers9952]

Excellent video, great work!

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you!

[@jhhayden]

Great work as usual Tatiana! BTW, the link to your print shop seems not to be working

[@TatianaHopper]

Fixed, thanks for letting me know John!

[@sweetjane5033]

Would like to see more of D. Lange

[@wheelgordes8253]

Thank you for the good quality content

[@TatianaHopper]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@paulhenry7678]

The Japanese Interment was indeed a shameful event. For years, I worked with a fellow who was born in one of the camps. He was very young, but recounted the stories told by his parents. My wife and I visited Manzanar a couple years ago. It is a National Historic Site. It was a very emotional experience, and hopefully the site will help ensure we never forget what happened. I'm a fan of Dorthea Lange, and had seen just a few of the photos. Ordered a copy of the book tonight...thanks for exploring this topic - excellent job!

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much for watching Paul and getting a copy. I’m glad it’s become a historic site as it should be preserved as document of history. That’s how I feel at least.

[@analogish2046]

Yeah my Grandparents and their families were taken from their farms in the Central Valley and put in incarceration camps for over 3 years when they were just kids. It was really difficult for my Grandma to accept because she was truly so proud to be American as she was a Nisei (2nd generation Japanese American) and somehow maintained her love for America until she died despite these events.

[@angelamartin8339]

Objectivity is rarely ever possible; photography is an exercise in subjectivity.

[@teacherdude]

"Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.' Elie Wiesel - Nobel Peace Prize winner. I say this not only as a theoretical stance but also as someone who has worked in refugee camps as a volunteer and a photographer.

[@TatianaHopper]

👏 fits the message, thank you for quoting that!

[@ulfjonsson2122]

As always, thumbs up!

[@TatianaHopper]

Thanks Ulf! :)

[@sierrapenguin5873]

Toyo Miyatake’s photographs from Manzanar give an insider’s view of life during the internment. His work is not mentioned as often as Adams or Lange.

[@TatianaHopper]

Will check it out, thank you for watching!

[@jasongood9413]

One of the most inspiring women not just because of her photography

[@TatianaHopper]

Agreed!

[@popularchipi]

Me encanta , gracias 🙏

[@TatianaHopper]

Thanks for watching! 🙌

[@the_last_rangefinder_society]

Very impressive work…….. thank you as always for sharing this folio…. When you get a second you might want to look out Paul Theroux’s book Picture Palace……….

[@TatianaHopper]

I’ll need to find it first thanks so much Tylaar!

[@duringthemeanwhilst]

agree 100% on objectivity in documentary photography. what you photograph is subjective, even if you've been commissioned then how you photograph it is subjective. no matter how good the photographer's intentions, their choice of subject and any artistic interpretation is bound to cloud the outcome.

[@TatianaHopper]

Cheers Nick! Appreciate your comment!

[@AnimalSuperSanctuary]

Yes more Lange and also Marion Post Wolcott. Here's a comment in general: all the famous shooters were either on assignment or had grants or were somehow paid for. Most of the rest of us either have a day job or the discretionary income to spend time shooting. Our volume is nowhere near the famous ones but that is because we do not have a patron of some sort. You would be a famous photographer if you didn't have to work a day job! Not that famous is the criteria but quantity of work is.

[@mlrodri]

Thanks!

[@jeffreyallen3461]

So, Paul Kitagki’s photo project “Gambatte! Legacy of an Enduring Spirit” takes her photos and then documents what's happened to many of the folks pictured in her photos. On a slightly different note- 6:41 is a picture of Shizuko Ina, she is pregnant with her daughter (Dr. Satsuki Ina, Ph.D) here in this photo. Dr. Satsuki Ina, Ph.D is New York Times artist/cartoonist (and screenwriter) Adrian Tomine

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you so much for that funny you referencing Adrian Tomine, I read some of his work (graphic novels) but didn’t know he was connected to that

[@michelphilippeLehaire]

Dorothea Lange was a fantastic photographer and of course I'd like to see more videos about her.

[@TatianaHopper]

Roger that!

[@oudviola]

Thanks Tatiana, I wasn't so aware of this work by Lange. You might like Days of Sand, a graphic novel by Aimee De Jongh, about a young photographer who gets hired by the FSA to document the dust bowl.

[@TatianaHopper]

I love graphic novels so for sure looking that up soon! Thanks for giving the video a watch!

[@renemies78]

I love your videos but I was wondering and I don't know if it's too much work for you to do but is it possible in future videos to also mention what type of camera or cameras and film the photographers were using at the time? That would be really cool to know. Thank you so much.

[@PhillipJ]

A very good video!

[@TatianaHopper]

🙏🏻

Gracias

[@TatianaHopper]

🙏🏻

[@birdie399]

Yes please

[@ChristopherRusanowsky]

Could you explore a more recent photographer? Like Chris Hondros or Tim Hetherington, both are gone. RIP - And again, thank you for your channel I love watching your videos.

[@TatianaHopper]

Sure even though I’ve done a video on a pretty recent photographer titled street photography genius he is still working today you might want to check it out! :)

[@NoBody6662]

At least the young American men with Japanese roots did not have to die senselessly in a superfluous war. I know, no real argument for breaking human rights, but recruiting people to send them to possible death is no better. And if you had asked the mothers of these men: camp or war, I know what they would have decided. Dorothea Lang is one of my favourites, I might add.

[@aeromodeller1]

Many Japanese American men fought in Europe and received medals, had to visit their parents in the camps.

[@Sos_June]

Do Lee Friedlander there isn't a lot of quality on him or his background and work in full like these

[@leonarddaneman810]

One can flip a coin and argue for either side, but the Japanese internment was an act by the Commander-In-Chief to not only limit potential espionage and infiltration, but to protect those of Japanese descent living in the United States. One Japanese civilian, Korematsu, sued in the U.S. Supreme Court in 1942, being jailed after challenging the violation of civil rights, but lost the case in 1944. What will happen if/when the Chinese attack Taiwan? How have the Chinese-Americans been treated after the Wuhan COVID virus? Already, those of Chinese descent are being discriminated against in higher education, especially when President XI and the CCP have declared all those of Chinese descent must remain loyal to China, and are obligated to commit acts of espionage and intellectual theft. The Chinese have even set up command posts in Canada and the U.S. There is even evidence that the Chinese-CCP poured a billion dollars into Dominion Voting Systems in order to prevent Donald Trump from re-election.

[@mariusbairakas6144]

Hello, will be great to listen some stories about Photographer “Antanas Sutkus” :))

[@mr.sudbury3856]

Do a video about Fan Ho

[@MrGotas]

I see all your videos there are amazing! I think is better if you put out the sound filter cut when silence because is so disturbing when you stop talk 😘

[@TatianaHopper]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@iainmc9859]

I'm going to pre-empt this comment by saying that I admire the work of Dorothea Lange and that I've always been on the 'Human Rights' side of politics. Having said that I've got some sympathy with the American Government's policy of re-location camps. It would be impossible to know any individuals true allegiance under those circumstances. Many Americans of Germanic heritage changed their name to fit in better, as had the British Royal Family in the First World War. For obvious reasons this would be more difficult to do for those who were ethnically south east Asian. Japan's Imperial expansionism was just as brutal as Nazi Germany's and I can't see any democratic government taking the risk of allowing the free movement of a few possible sympathizers who were largely first or second generation American citizens. Although conditions were spartan I'm not aware that those interned were used as slave labour or malnourished, simply segregated. It may have even saved the lives of some Japanese/Americans from their neighbour's gun culture. As none of us were there ... I guess its hard to come down on one side or the other 100%.

[@TatianaHopper]

I agree that these situations are not black and white which is why I said it was a bizarre turn in US history because it’s extraordinary circumstances and extraordinary events I can’t certainly judge the past because I didn’t live it I can only be a witness to what is the recordings of it so my main goal is to learn from it and whatever happens I do hope this doesn’t repeat itself again as it brings serious implications to society and future generations. Thanks for watching and for expressing your thoughts in an educated and understanding manner.

[@iainmc9859]

@@TatianaHopper Unfortunately, even if we 'learn from history' the human condition remains the same; so we will repeat the mistakes of the past, as we see in the present, and will continue to do so in the future - when things aren't going well its always easy to point the finger at an easily targeted minority .... and on that cheery note 😣

[@ryantanakaphoto]

The government also had the audacity to draft Japanese men into the army while incarcerating their parents. Imagine dying in Italy while the government held your parents. The 442nd infantry regiment would become the most decorated in US military history. The irony.

[@iainmc9859]

@@ryantanakaphoto Hi Ryan, you just muddied the waters. Were they Japanese men or were they American men of Japanese ancestry ? Imagine being cornered in a bar a month after Pearl Harbor by three aggressive rednecks and being asked 'Are you Japanese ?'. Do you tell them your place of birth ? Your life may just depend on the answer you give. I doubt that the American army were rounding Japanese men up to put in American uniforms. Joining the army as an American of Japanese extraction may be an unambiguous way to prove your loyalty to the Stars and Stripes rather than the Rising Sun. I myself was born in one country but live in another; if there was open conflict between the two which uniform would I wear and would I be truly enthusiastic to fight for either ? There just aren't any 'one size fits all' answers. There never is in war.

[@brocklanders6969]

FDR, America's greatest Fascist. Woodrow Wilson get honorable mention.

[@Photojouralist123]

My parents were in those concentration camps In Idaho

[@TatianaHopper]

Sorry to hear that John. My heart goes to them and the difficulties of being put in that position

[@Photojouralist123]

@@TatianaHopper thank you. I’m a retired photojournalist worked for AP and AFP

[@gregderozier3846]

Her images belonged to the U.S. Government.

[@cedbon7804]

🙏💨

[@Dahrenhorst]

In Germany we have the saying "Schere im Kopf", what means that you preemptively censor your own thinking and acting because of anticipated repercussions, when thinking or acting this way. I understand very well that showing pictures of children in many circumstances may not be appropriate, but to not show or discuss photographically documented historic events just because children are included in the pictures, is way over board. It's unnecessary, and in such cases even detrimental, self-censoring out of exaggerated and reasonable political correctness. If you would stumble over a picture book about the abuse of Canadian indigenous children in those children camps and "schools" over there, would you not discuss this book, since most of the pictures would show children? Otherwise, great video, thanks for that! I admire Dorothea Lange since I've seen her pictures the first time some 50 years ago (and many of the most forcefull pictures include children).

[@TatianaHopper]

I didn’t include pictures of children because KZbin does not sympathise with that I suggest you read the community guidelines as it will perhaps explain it better and in more detail. So it wasn’t because I didn’t want it. Simply because KZbin would probably get my video either down or give me a strike / warning - as it has happened before. It’s a platform where you have access to free content and they have certain rules we have to follow regardless of discussing art or history, so it’s either the video has it is or not at all.

[@Dahrenhorst]

@@TatianaHopper Thanks for the explanation and clarification. I'm a long time commentator on YT and not a creator (yet), so I haven't checked the rules publication yet. It is not right, that KZbin suppresses certain discussions about historic events via forbidding to show visual evidence. I've seen this also in videos discussing internationally renowned art, if those entail nudity. To me as a German, this reminds me of the darkest times in our history, where a small group of bigoted and intolerant rulers decided what art is allowed to be seen and what not, and - just like now in Russia - what can be publicly discussed and what not. This is the worst kind of censor-ship, and I wonder, why millions of KZbin creators simply endure that.

[@davidgambin2551]

Is it even possible to be objective when doing documentary photography? 🤔

[@raytreat6599]

Yes, more please

[@raytreat6599]

I just discovered that Dorothea Lang’s Migrant Mother photo was taken with a 4x5 Graflex Series D camera, primitive by today’s standards. I have one myself and have photographed with it! Just goes to show the photographer’s eye and technical skills greatly outweigh the equipment!

[@TatianaHopper]

Absolutely Ray!

[@stuartfeen9236]

A shameful period of American history that too many today, except old folks, know anything about.

[@jwhclark]

Thanks!

[@TatianaHopper]

Thank you!