Soak Pit 

Although the photograph is black and white, one can easily imagine that the block of steel held aloft by the crane is bright red with heat. In addition to this fiery source of light, sunlight can be seen streaming down from the ceiling. The sense of majesty infusing this otherwise commonplace scene no doubt stems from the depiction of the molten steel, which no human could ever touch, and the effective use of the sunlight. This steel mill is thought to have belonged to Chicago’s largest steel company, which once stood on the shores of Lake Michigan. At the age of 43, Harry K. Shigeta established a photography studio in Chicago and worked as a commercial photographer. At the same time, he exhibited landscape photographs that imitated paintings and photographs satirizing Hitler and other prominent figures.
(OSAWA Sayoko)