There was a major effect that this photograph taken by Eugene Smith had on the public. First, it helped to raise the general public’s knowledge of this situation. By showing shocking images of the effects that mercury poison has on individuals, many people called for harsher penalties on companies that dumped the chemical and for stricter regulations on what could or could not be dumped into a water source. Additionally, the photo helped to raise public support for the people of Minamata. The photographs that Smith took showed that the people of the area were suffering at an alarming rate. Without the images that Smith unveiled to the world, most people would not have known that this tragedy had ever occurred. From Smith’s photos, the rest of the world was able to add its support to the people and help shift the limelight of blame to the corporation that had been recklessly poisoning the water supply of Minamata.