Editorial, IISc Pc 1941, an ever happening year in world history, witnessed dramatic socio-political changes. In the middle of the World War II, the Axis power was at their peak and was gradually stepping forward towards their goal. On the other hand, Franklin Roosevelt was starting to support the Allies. In March 1941, the US president signed the Lend-Lease Act, a US program to support the Allies with free supplies, in return for no-cost leases on army and naval bases in Allied territory during the war, as well as local supplies. In the meantime, probably as a result of the act, small-scale social turbulences were building up within the United States. Rampant public strikes, closing of factories and plants were becoming a social ritual on the other side of the Atlantic. However, sporadic activities in the US was not the central focus of photo documentation in those days. In the mainland of Europe or even in Japan, it was more dramatic. With a heavy and cumbersome large format camera, one photograph per six-seven seconds was the best possible outcome. So, the then photographers preferred to be in Europe and shoot social documentaries and journalistic works, where opportunities were diverse. Milton Brooks though, a photojournalist of The Detroit News, was not traveling out of his circle. Rather he was concentrating on the nascent chaos around the biggest Ford Motor plant in Detroit. On 3rd April 1941, the labourers of River Rouge Plant lost their patience when one of the union members was fired from the plant. Henry Ford never expected that labor turmoil could shut his 120,000-man plant down within hours. Eventually, a clash broke out between strike-breakers and unionists. Working as a journalist in the The Detroit News, Brooks was already at the hotspot. Patiently, he was looking for the right moment, as he knew, one random shot may cost him six to seven seconds to capture another one. In a mob clutter, he found one strike-breaker was arguing with a picket group. From his recollection, “He had the wrong side of the argument, and I knew there would be trouble pretty soon”. The arguing man was being pushed by the picket groups and was already been enclosed by the strikers. The club came out from one of the strikers (on the second left) and the strike-breaker leaned down to protect himself. Milton Brooks got the precious moment he was waiting for. Milton Brooks, The Detroit News Technical Details: Camera: 4 * 5 Speed Graphic Film: Kodak Lens: 127 mm Shutter and Aperture: Unknown Brooks' photograph was published in The Detroit News, and won the Pulitzer award of journalism in the next year, 1942. This was the first ever photograph to be awarded the Pulitzer. Although Brooks' work was not the first instance of photojournalism, it definitely marked an evolution of the form. Rather than graphics, human interactions got more attention in a photograph. This work of photojournalism has influenced the thought processes of future generation of photojournalists working in war zones.
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