“Dr. Ernest Ceriani Following the Loss of a Mother and Child During Childbirth” (1948) Smith is not my favorite photographer. He is so emotionally invested in his subjects, so wholesomely attached, that it can be a little grating to the cynical, ironic personality of the critic. But he’s one of the most important American photographers of the 20th century and it’s easy to see why. He always found the right light, the right pose, and the right moment. It wasn’t easy for him — he worked all the time and under all kinds of horrible conditions. And he was a ruthless editor, as I learned from the exhibit. Copyright W. Eugene Smith

“Dr. Ernest Ceriani Following the Loss of a Mother and Child During Childbirth” (1948)

Smith is not my favorite photographer. He is so emotionally invested in his subjects, so wholesomely attached, that it can be a little grating to the cynical, ironic personality of the critic. But he’s one of the most important American photographers of the 20th century and it’s easy to see why. He always found the right light, the right pose, and the right moment. It wasn’t easy for him — he worked all the time and under all kinds of horrible conditions. And he was a ruthless editor, as I learned from the exhibit.

Copyright W. Eugene Smith