Women Photographers -- Panel Discussion

Recently, I attended a seminar held to commemorate Women’s Awareness Month, sponsored by B&H Photo. Discussion panels and talks by working photographers at their Event Space, held free, are something I frequently attend to learn about new products, introductions to popular ones, or to listen to travel photographers talk about their experiences. How else could I see a demonstration of the rule of thirds, which helps tremendously with visualization, an important step before pushing the shutter button. Or see the latest in flash gear for my camera.

But I digress; the seminar was a panel discussion among five outstanding and talented women photographers, moderated by Jackie King, who traveled to New York from London especially for the seminar. The other speakers included: Lauren Steel, Cig Harvey, Renee Cox and Anne Arden McDonald (who I heard speak at the Alternative Methods panel presented by F295). The presentations focused on personal work, especially self-portraits, but other remarks ranged more widely.

What was the take-away from the presentation? One, the slideshows emphasized how every photographer has a unique view of their surroundings. The speakers talked about their backgrounds, approaches and particular viewpoints. Some good questions too: does feminine energy play a part in the creation of the final image. Lauren Steel , manager of Reportage at Getty Images, acknowledged that women can gain entry into certain places that men could not as easily, she spoke about some men’s work reflecting sensitivity and emotion. Factors often considered features of a woman’s creative output. Even this is not always the case, Anne Arden McDonald considered her universal, wide range appeal as a sales point. Her imagery is used to define herself, to address tensions and struggles in her life that are often common to many people, men and women.

This issue also addressed the inclination of women to include themselves in their work. Cig Harvey’s photographs are meant to reflect the resolution of certain circumstances in her life. As well, she wants to tell a story through her imagery; she brainstorms to find ideas, to make order out of chaos, beauty out of pain. Self-portraits are a way to remember, be a trigger to recall past life events. Equally, the exploration can lead to new adventures, to learn to exist more in the present. In this manner, Harvey is using less constructed imagery, in favor of more reality-based ones. And in a manner of speaking, Renee Cox could be considered totally reality-based. After working as a fashion photographer, she consciously focused on her personal work which is quite distinctive and at times was controversial. Her new work addresses feminine issues in a quirky way.

Jackie King revealed a lighthearted side to her work that emerged from her two year stay in the United States. Recently she had a marathon shoot to document 100 women; 100 portraits were recently on view in a London exhibition.

Dear readers, I will leave you with two questions. One brought by a panelist, who was once asked: Why was she an artist? The second question came from the audience, asked of the panelists: Do you construct your work from your head, your heart or your groin?

[Images: International Working Women's Day Rally, March 27, 2010; Union Square, New York, NY.]