W. Eugene Smith: Jessica Aicholtz

W. Eugene Smith is an influential black and white photographer. He is extremely dedicated to his work. Even after multiple times of being injured while photographing the front lines of the island-hopping American offensive against Japan during World War II, he recovered and continued his photography. A common theme of his work was social responsibility. Smith went headfirst into his work during the war. He wanted to capture the complete experience and "sink into the heart of the action". However, after a mortar wound he retired from his war photography and wanted to shoot something completely opposite of the war. The first photograph, "The Walk to Paradise Garden", exemplifies this. It is of his son and daughter walking through the woods into a clearing. This photograph became to be one of his most beloved.

 Smith strived to create work that touched the emotions and conscience of his audience. He learned photography from his mother. By his early teens he knew he was destined to be a photographer. By the early age of 21 he was already published in many magazines. But later on in his career he wanted to separate himself from the magazine industry and focus on being an independent artist.