Migrant mother on the Shanghai-Heifei Train, 2003 photo

Jennifer Zhou | all galleries >> Galleries >> Everybody Has a Story > Migrant mother on the Shanghai-Heifei Train, 2003


28-DEC-2003

Migrant mother on the Shanghai-Heifei Train, 2003

Large numbers of workers from China's poorer cities such as Heifei, migrate to Shanghai to find jobs in factories and other places with low wages. This migrant mother is one many such laborers, returning from Shanghai to Heifei on this train. She holds her own child in her arms as she looks up at another migrant mother. Although her life is very hard, I feel that she carries not only this child with her, but also a sense of hope. It is what keeps her, and all of these migrant laborers, going.

Canon EOS 10D ,Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
1/13s f/2.5 at 50.0mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto

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Mayand		29-Jun-2013 05:42
Before i could even read the caption, photo had HOPE written all over it, Laoshi..... my fav in this collection....

Vikas Malhotra		27-Nov-2007 08:45
Simply brilliant.... LOVE this one.

flowsnow		31-May-2007 00:32
One of the most moving images I have seen. It says it all.

ruthemily		29-May-2006 13:56
i have no words, Jen. every picture i see of yours i'm convinced photojournalism can't get any better, and then you astound me with another. you're amazing! hope you are well!

Chris Sofopoulos		27-Sep-2005 22:24
Powerful image full of emotion. A piece of art.

nomada		11-Sep-2005 12:56
Great capture. Excellent work

Jennifer Zhou		29-Jun-2005 09:52
Kal, thank you for the thoughtful comment. You think the picture was like from decades ago, but the truth is, we have so many places in china are less developed and the living condition doesn't have much improvement. Those people in the picture are ones have the courage to leave home for big cities trying to find their dreams.. Life may change for good or bad, but I feel there are something about them that will never change, and that is what makes who they are.. Besides hope, I think there must be some shocking, uneasy feelings when they are under the bright lights (just like when they are living in a big city), that is quite complicated feelings, but we all know things always has its two sides. Thank you for helping me to see more in this picture Kal!

Kal Khogali		28-Jun-2005 04:00
Hi Jen. I have looked at this image so many times, but did not comment because I fealt all that could be said had been said...but there is more. This image is iconic. It is one of those images in my opinion that 2 decades or more from now, will remind China of it's past history, when times were not so great and life was not so easy, it will belong in a museum, Jen. It represents hope in the form of the light and the upwards gaze of mother and child, but it also represents hard labour and deprived life in the condition of the child. Mother and child have been beaten down but they will get up again. This is the story of China. Of all your work here, which all moves me deeply, this one is universal in it's human value appeal. Who could not stop at this picture and want to shed a tear. I don't know how you got so intimate here Jen, but your intimate view and composition are what make this picture. We are sitting here next to them.

Guest		17-Dec-2004 20:59
Very great image, the hard light the BW abstracts it with such a hardness that it almost gives me shivers and the narrow feeld depth enphatises the drama of the child. Great picuture.

Guest		14-Dec-2004 19:42
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Guest		04-Dec-2004 01:08
excellent image. i vote it

Guest		30-Nov-2004 08:09
great image,nice

Jennifer Zhou		18-Nov-2004 09:27
Nice to see you here Tim! We never talked before, but I have known you from Phil long ago. I am so flattered that this picture reminds you Dorthea's famous Migrant Mother series. To be honest with you, this is my first picture made in China at the end of the last year, by that time, I didn't have any knowledge about photojournalism, and didn't know Dorothea and her work either. And the name was given by Phil actually, I gave him the backgrand information and told him what I feel what I want to say in this picture, then he organized the caption in good english and made a good title for it. :) He is really helpful! I think Dorothea's pictures are so rich in content and deeply emotional. I will study her work when I have chance. Thank you Tim! Jen

Tim May		15-Nov-2004 18:47
I am reminded of Dorthea Lang's famous image in terms of feeling and content. Were you aware of the connection when you named this image?

AMP		13-Nov-2004 02:13
wow...excellent image.vote it....

Gilles Navet		19-Oct-2004 07:26
impressive and terrific picture, probably the best of the gallery Bravo Gilles

type		15-Oct-2004 12:02
Definitive photojournalism. Quite perfect.

Phil Douglis		02-Oct-2004 04:50
****

Phil Douglis		27-Sep-2004 16:16
This image is timeless, Jen. It works in black and white because the abstract qualities of black and white hone it down to its essence, without the symbolic overtones layered upon it by its former sepia presentation. But it is also a piece of history, Jen. Its message is timeless and universal, and your former warm sepia tone gave it that timeless quality. So it comes down again to what you want to say with this picture. That will determine whether or not you show it to us in black and white, or in sepia. This is perhaps your most important image to date, Jen. Choose your presentation format on the basis of what you want to say, not just how it looks.

Guest		21-Aug-2004 21:43
this is beautiful... and compelling. bravo jennifer. ; ) dR

Jim Chiesa		17-Aug-2004 05:28
Such a wonderful image that expresses so many things: Dispair, effort, investment, devotion, and I surely miss other adjectives.. Well done, Jennifer, this image is a prize winner. BRegards Jim

Jennifer Zhou		10-Aug-2004 06:35
Thanks Phil, I have been looking at your galleries and just so many things there I could learn...You are my teacher Phil, thanks thanks, I will write you later!:)

Phil Douglis		10-Aug-2004 06:03
Jennifer -- please continue to explore this branch of photography. You have the instincts and eye for it -- to continue to grow as a photojournalist, all you need is experimentation, practice, experience and the knowledge that springs from it. Please don't hesitate to use me and my galleries as resource. I'll be glad to help you. Phil

Jennifer Zhou		10-Aug-2004 05:24
Marek and Phil, I really appreciate your comments here, they really mean so much to me! This was my very first shot after my return, and I wasn't aware by that time that it would bring me to anywhere. Until few days ago, I decided to put my snapshot of people in China all together, I then find out that could be actually a very good subject. Thanks you two for helping to make this clear to myself and I will try to move forward to this dirction... Best Regard Jennifer

Phil Douglis		09-Aug-2004 17:18
Jennifer, I agree with Marek. Of all your photographs, this is the most moving. It is honest, direct, straightforward, rich in human values, abstraction and incongruities. You seem to have taken a giant leap forward with this image, moving away from photo-illustration and towards photojournalism. I hope you will make further efforts in this direction. Your gifts are many, and you have a lot to offer as a compassionate, expressive photographer. Phil

Guest		09-Aug-2004 09:06
I've just read an obituary of H C-B. It ends with "the photos leave us wanting to know more". This one does this for me. My favourite shot here, powerful and lasting.

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