Black Women Photographers offers a new outlook for Black creatives
It’s been just a year since Black Women Photographers was founded, on July 7, 2020, and the organization has already done so much to help Black and non-binary photographers. The organization was founded by Polly Irungu in order to give Black women photographers like herself not only the platform and attention they deserve but also the appreciation and pay.
With over 600 members from all around the world, big strides have been made to help the community. Just recently, BWP partnered with Nikon, receiving $40k in grants and $10k for gear.
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.
Joy Ofodu to the world: a digital media mogul in the making
Joy Ofodu is the youngest marketer at Instagram, arguably the largest and most popular social media company globally. Her life’s mission is to empower communities, particularly Black creators, both on and offline. Equipped with her vibrant personality and dynamic online presence to match, she is quite literally bringing joy to the world one Instagram reel at a time.
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.
Inari Briana Shares the Highs and Lows of Creative Entrepreneurship in the Media
Inari Briana’s photography journey began with taking pictures at a stroll-off for the alumni homecoming week in college. When her classmates started paying her $25 for a set of four photos, what initially seemed like a short stint in dabbling with photography was the stepping-stone that has led to working with brands like SavagexFenty and AppleTV.
How Lola Akinmade Åkerström is Inspiring Black Women Photographers to Travel Outside the Box
On this journey of life, if travel is a source of knowledge, Lola is the worldliest of them all. Since her first assignment in Fiji, Lola has chased the northern lights, written about the Arctic cultures, and has since dispatched from over 70 countries. For her efforts in breaking barriers in the realm of travel photography, she received the 2018 Travel Photographer of the Year Bill Muster Award.
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.
Sarah Waiswa is the Ugandan Documentary and Portrait Photographer Showcasing the Complexities of African Identity
Sarah Waiswa’s photography is the epitome of poetic justice. Her vivid color palette and expansive portfolio boast her attempt at capturing the full spectrum of human emotion as she documents everyday life on the African continent.
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.
Faith Couch’s Photography Creates an Escapism Beyond the White Gaze
"Search for what is good and strong and beautiful in your society and elaborate from there. Push outward. Always create from what you already have. Then you will know what to do." - Michel Foucault.
Faith Couch’s journey as one of the artist’s shaping Baltimore burgeoning art scenes began with a fated rude awakening. Nurtured by her father’s good judgement, she recalls a priceless life lesson he delivered to her. “Growing up, my father told me that the best don't always get to play.” Though this could be interpreted as a sign of a well-intentioned father’s skepticism, the premonition dared her to dream.
Music Photographer Abrielle Williams Talks with Black Women Photographers
In today’s digitized era, the symbiotic relationship between music and photography are mutually dependent. Abrielle Williams is a music and events photographer interested in sparking conversation and merging the two disciplines through her photography.
Her portfolio is both illuminating and arresting, creating an atmosphere that propels viewers onto the cinematic journey of live concerts through their screens. Though she has worked on BTS sets with the likes of SiR and photographed artists like Saweetie, Young MA, and Brandy, the warmth of her palette strikes a presence that makes the biggest acts of music right seem familiar.