Women Photojournalists (trials and triumphs)

Photo By: Fred Dufour, AFP

Camille Lepage, born in 1988 in Angers, France- found her passion for photography after receiving a degree in journalism from Southampton Solent University. After discovering the concept of putting these two disciplines together to form photojournalism, she moved to South Sudan in 2012 to cover the population that was set apart from the government where she worked independently. Her work was often appraised and has been published in many well-known works such as: : New York Times, The Guardian, Le Monde, The Washington Post, Der Spiegel, Libération, Le Nouvel Observateur, La Croix, The Sunday Times, Wall Street Journal, Vice Magazine, Al Jazeera, and was frequently used by BBC, etc. The Central African Republic in 2013 warned the public that the country was “spiraling into genocide” and beginning complete chaos. Lepage though felt very passionately about it and stated "I can’t accept that people’s tragedies are silenced simply because no one can make money out of them," "I decided to do it myself, and bring some light to them no matter what." In May of 2014, Lapage’s body was found in an anti-balaka rebels vehicle by French troops that were in the area trying to make peace within the country.





Alice Gabriner states when speaking about the death of Camille Lepage, “I'm always astonished by the bravery of these women. I'm getting calls all the time from people who just want a job, desperately want to go here or there and are willing to take the risks and so I'm happy to be able to get them doing a story they want to do. It's in retrospect, even years afterwards, you think about the risks. Photo editors are in a difficult position. Photography is a tough business and the turnover is so great, and people want to get into places that nobody else gets." She also adds that “for the last decade some of our most powerful stories have been produced by a new generation of photojournalists who are women.” Although really unfortunate that Lepage’s career had come to an end and she had become a victim of premature death due to the dangers, her message to capture the violence via her photography remains. Another photojournalist that held a similar story to Camille Lepage’s and died the same year is Anja Neidringhaus who was killed covering elections in Afghanistan in 2014. The Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award was the announced as “a 1 million dollar gift from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Award will be given annually to a woman photojournalist whose work reflects the courage and dedication of Anja Niedringhaus. The first award ceremony was held in Berlin on June 25, 2015." The bravery of these two women is made into a mockery in the revealing comments documented on saidtoladyjournos, “We won’t send a girl to Iraq” - said by an executive editor at state paper. Of which is an opinion employed from many on women covering potentially dangerous new coverings.

 

Photo By: Camille Lepage
Image Source: http://mrofoundation.org/camille-lepage/
Year Created: 2014
Principle #1: Subject's Emotion: This image illustrates a lot of emotion upon the boy's face. From this image, it looks as if the boy is in pain or is greatly fearful of the men in uniform.
Principle #2: Color: This image does not have a wide variety of colors that are used. By doing so, it directs the attention of the viewers to the boy's face. Also, it is pointed out that the boy and the gentlemen behind him have different uniforms on.
Principle #3: Simplicity: The image is rather simple in nature. Camille Lepage focused in on the boy's face to elaborate on the emotion felt at the time. If she included the faces of the gentlemen behind him it would take away from the boy.
Why I chose this image?: Camille Lepage's image pictured above shows pure fear upon the boy's face. It is powerful
and necessary as she said in her interviews that the rest of the world is aware of the violence and misfortune
that occurs in other places within the world. She felt so passionate about conveying this message to the rest of the world that she, unfortunately, was killed at 26 years old.

Photojournalism that has been predominantly run by men throughout history has been altered over the last few decades. Lynsey Addario states “A lot of the questions I am getting recently are ‘should women cover conflict? should women be in warzones’... two friends were killed in Libia and they were men. We cover war because we think it should be covered.” It is important to understand that the risk is posed to both men and women covering war regardless of gender. But it is apparent that women play an important role when documenting the violence of war and within humanity because they allow for a different perspective. As Lynsey Addario also points out “ gender-based violence and rape of a weapon of war, I have access to those things because I am a woman and women feel comfortable talking about those issues with other women” and some parts of the world religion impedes the male’s ability to come within the home without being blood relative or married into the family- only allowing a female to photograph the lives of these individuals. Making the role of women photojournalist vital to illustrate to the rest of the world the livelihood of foreign countries.


Photojournalism is not the only profession that has lent a similar question of whether or not it is “too violent” for women to work. Another occupation that comes to mind, are police officers. In a recent article, explaining a lawsuit initiated by 18 female law enforcement officers from Philidelphia that have been a victim of discrimination and harassment, Patricia Getty (first female officer of that department) explains that in 1976, “there were no bathrooms, locker rooms, or uniforms for women, and she and other rookies were forced to cut their hair short.” All with the logic that was stated as “‘If you want to be a man, then you’re going to act like a man,’ ” because the workforce has always been majority male. With only 13% (as of 2018) make up the role of a police officer, it has been ridiculed by many that women do not belong as a police officer for multiple reasons. It has been said that it has been to physically rigorous, unable to respond to violent acts of crime, too emotionally involved, and too forgiving. These challenges and judgments that are placed upon females are not qualities that define a woman. It is not a question of sex that defines what it takes to be a police officer but instead the qualities of the individual- male or female. Ellen Kirschman states it well that,” the ideal cop, male or female, is an androgynous combination of psychologist, minister, diplomat, politician, doctor, parent, historian, stunt-car driver, guardian, enforcer, athlete, combat social worker, and sleuth.”

Photo By: Nathan Lopez
Image Source: https://www.kvnf.org/post/grand-junction-photography-project-looks-beyond-badge#stream/0
Year Created: 2015
Principle #1: Rule of thirds: If you were to cut this image into thirds, the officer would be in the last third of the image. This helps guide the viewer's eyes through the image and dramatizes it as well.
Principle #2: Background: The images background works well and compliments the female officer. The brick background brings attention of the viewer to the expression of the officer.
Principle #3: Contrast: The image carries a high contrast between the dark shadowed areas and the brightened areas. The brickwork behind her implements both dark and outlined by lightened areas. The brightest part of the image is the woman's face which helps guide the viewer to her expression.
Why I chose this image?: This image does a great job demonstrating the seriousness that most females take their job as a law enforcement officer. It conveys integrity and virtue upon her face- all of which were contradicted in the criticisms pointed out.