Newseum Photo Criticism

John White's 1982 photograph, "Life in Chicago" is an effective piece for several reasons. First, White has done an excellent job of capturing the genuine joy of the children. The low vantage point makes the children appear more important because they tower above the viewer. White has also placed the horizon line well below the center of the photograph, making the composition more interesting. The composition is balanced and symmetrical. The legs of the foremost children effectively frame the two children behind them.

Despite the compelling subject of this photo, a few simple changes would have made it even more effective. First, the building in the background makes the shot too busy and  distracts from the children. The building is also directly in the center of the shot, which does not help to increase the attractiveness of the photograph. The building is necessary to the shot in that it serves to set the scene of the photograph, but shooting the building at a slightly different angle might have made the shot more compelling. The empty foreground, however, does not help to draw the viewer into the action of the photograph Had one of the children been slightly closer to the camera, the depth of the shot would have been more clearly defined. Because the children are so far from the camera, the viewer feels as though he is outside of the joyous running and not part of it.