Jacob Riis's Camera
Bringing Light to Tenement Children

Jacob Riis was determined to improve the living conditions of the poor—to fill their dark, ramshackle places with sunlight and soft, green grass. Places where children could play. After immigrating to New York City and working as a news reporter, Jacob was deeply affected by the poverty
surrounding him, especially in the tenements:
• Cramped rooms bursting with too many people
• Kerosene and mold stench choking the air
• Children playing in filthy streets
But how could Jacob inspire change? Using a special flash powder, Jacob Riis photographed the dark, overcrowded buildings and their impoverished residents, shining light in their rooms for the world to see—and changing the lives of tenement children and their families for the better.