The Beginning of a Life Long Journey: Florence Owens Thompson
ʺI saw and approached the hungry and desperate mother, as if drawn by a magnet,” Dorothea Lange announced. “She told me her name, age and place of reason nothing else was spoken” Florence Owens Thompson was following in the horrible Great Depression, stuck at trying to raise seven children on nothing except frozen vegetables. Dorothea Lange’s iconic photograph “Migrant Mother in Nipomo, California, 1936” shows the terrible life of the unwealthy, and the troubles of a single mother stuck in the Pea Pickers camp. Dorothea Lange was driving home from a month-long photograph assignment when she passed Pea Pickers camp. Known as a terrible place, filled with dusty torn down buildings, dirty brown water; nothing to keep hopes up for. A camera by her side as she approaches Florence, silent blank minded, as she wonder’s up to the old blanked made shelter. The black and white photograph shows the older women in sharp contrast holding her newborn child with her two older children covered by her side. Florence Thompson was just trying to work to make enough money for her family before their vehicle had enough. James Curtis, editor of Eyewitness to History writes that the photo seems to be a “Image of a worn, weather-beaten woman, with a look of desperation on her face.” Upon closer inspection, the face of the 32 year-old woman seems to be old and tethered with a look of despair to find her way out (“Curtis”).

Fig. I Dorothea Lange, Migrant Mother in Nipomo,California, 1936 Eyewitnesstohistory.com

"No. If I'd ever lost hope, I'd never [a'] made it." Florence Thompson’s spoken statement could give this picture more of a lifelike feeling of the old terrible scenery . Florence was traveling to find work through the Nipomo area with all her children. After pushing the old, beaten down car, as far as it could travel it ran out of life. Florence, and the man she was traveling with decided it was time for a stop (ʺUniversity Librariesʺ ). This image of her and the two children hidden behind her, and one in her lap. Show’s the strength and dignity she has to keep protection and move forward to give herself a better life by succeeding. Florence Thompson’s left the Pea Pickers Camp several days after the photo was taken, but before it was published. Once the public was exposed to see what happens to the people in poverty, the government had sent over $20,000 worth of food to the camp (“Aves”). Although Florence had already left she was not able to share the help from the state, she was thankful for what they had done. Thompson was not a typical depression migrant she had been living in California 10 years of her life traveling place to place (“Kottke”). Not only having six children, Florence, had been married more than once, being widowed with half-dozen children (“Dunn”). She was traveling with Jim Hill on their way to find work the father of her youngest child, but not her husband (“University Libraries”). While Dorothea Lange’s made her arrival Jim had already left to find supplies which is why he was not pictured in the photo. After the pictures have been shot she had asked Dorothea not to publish them in public she had also asked for copies of the photographs which she never received (“Aves”).
The outstanding photograph the Migrant Mother is worth more in value than in money; although, the photograph last being sold in 2002 priced at $144,500 to Christine New York. Not being the original photograph but a copy of it was priced incredibly high (“Aves”). Not knowing who the woman was in the beginning Florence had plenty of recognition. In 1998 the US Postal Service even decided to use the image as the 32c stamp (“Aves”).
My reacting of the photo includes taking an average day person, and turning them into a dusty, old, and bruised up figure. Using photography contrast method to darken the photo down to match, and using a empty, dried up lot for the scenery. In this photo taken by Alexandria Alfaro recreates the Migrant Mother by displaying a depressing feel of what once Dorothea Lange captured.

Fig. II Alexandria Alfaro, Haley Wolf in Yale,Oklahoma, 2014

Migrant Mother taken by Dorothea Lange was a cry of help in 1936 that receives plenty of attention. It gives us a photo of remorse that we can reflect back on to a period of time that America never wants to repeat. The point in time that nobody ever needs to endure the struggle in life. Over the major time change in America we have increased our way of living, and production to make sure the majority of people will be able to live healthy life style. To continue living with the different opportunities in the new centuries. The look back on the iconic photograph Migrant Mother gives people the realization that problems in life do happen.

Works Cited

Aves, Steve. "The Story Behind the Image." Wex Blog. (2013): n. page. Print.
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"Migrant Mother." University Libraries. (Jan 15, 2013): n. page. Print.
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"Migrant Mother." Kottke. (April 9, 2007): n. page. Print.
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Dunn, Geoffrey. "One of the most famous photos in American history." Wayback Machine. (2007): n. page. Print.