Why Photojournalist Dee Dwyer is the Visual Voice for the People
Dee Dwyer is motivated by trying to demystify the “misunderstood.” You’ll often find her photographing in Black and White to capture the nebulous grey areas that are neglected under the mainstream media’s eye. Her latest projects are no exception. The first photo that caught my eye browsing her Instagram was Black women twerking in a circle at a celebration for Women’s History Month in Washington, D.C. Though the white gaze often sharply portrays Black pain and Black joy as distinct from each other, Dee’s uncensored imagery disrupts these specific parameters of the truth, adversities, beauty, and culture of the Black experience.
Cheriss May’s Photojournalism is Highlighting the Hidden Figures of Our Communities
Cheriss May’s passion to connect the souls of those she photographs from lens to paper all began when she received a Kodak film camera for Christmas. Several photography classes and successful shoebox camera experiments later, she got admission into Howard with a major in advertising. Through happenstance steered her toward a career in graphic design, photography was always the crux of her destiny.
A Conversation with the King of Shade
When Pete Souza said he didn’t consider himself to be the best photographer, most of the nearly 200 people on the Zoom call had a similar reaction of shock and laughter. After listening to his story and thoughtful answers to our questions for two hours, I now understand that it’s this level of humility and unconceited honesty that afforded Souza the ability to document Reagan and Obama presidencies in a way that has already captivated the eyes of history.
Gabriella Agnotti Jones is the Trailblazer Encouraging Other Photojournalists to Photograph Through an Ethical Lens
Before Gabriella Agnotti Jones was Artsy’s 20 rising woman photojournalists to watch, she was an ambitious young photographer eager to take up space in the predominantly white photojournalism world. Since taking that leap of faith, her journey into the field has propelled her to internships at The New York Times, Tampa Bay Times, Las Vegas Review-Journal which secured her place as a former staff photographer at the Los Angeles Times. Gabriella shares that her experiences have challenged a moral reckoning within her. We spoke about the limitations of representation and why we shouldn’t solely focus on who is behind a camera, but how photojournalists today can ethically engage with socio-economic commentary.