Sebastiao Salgado
Gift of Cornell Capa
Salgado, Sebastiao. Church Gate is the terminus station of the Western railroad line, built by the British; the railroad system covers much of India. The trains are notorious for being dangerously overcrowded. ICP, https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/objects/church-gate-is-the-terminus-station-of-the-western-railroad-line-built-by-the.
Robert Capa
GERMANY. 1945. Near Wesel.
Capa, Robert. GERMANY. Near Wesel. March 24th, 1945. American paratroopers landing in Germany. Magnum Photos, https://pro.magnumphotos.com/CS.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL535353&RW=1536&RH=747.
These photographers contributions to documentary photography are great. Salgado’s influence can be seen in documenting things like we see in the first image, a station that is notorious for being overcrowded and dangerous. Images like this that are documented can help get us where we are today with modern public transportation regulations, with occupancy to make sure everyone is safe. When things like this are documented it directly conveys the problems that are happening that may go unseen if you are not affected by it. Then other photographer, Capa, has influenced documentary photography by putting himself in life threatening situations to have the opportunity to document what is truly going on oversees during war. The image I chose of paratroopers landing in Germany is a more peaceful image than some of his others, his other images show the darkness of war that we would never be able to see unless he was there risking his life to document it.