Seeing Art in a New Light - Women Photographers Breaking Barriers

Storytellers should be as diverse as the communities they hope to represent, but right now, only 15 percent of professional photographers are women. Data collected by Women Photograph shows between April and June 2019, eight of the world’s leading newspapers printed far fewer lead photographs by women than by men.

We want to highlight Women in Photography who are using their talents to show art in a new light, all while breaking barriers in the industry.

Aïda Muluneh

Aïda Muluneh’s latest series features harsh daily realities that women in Ethiopia face to get water. In her Water Life series, she used the desert as a backdrop to paint the picture of the impact that a lack of clean water has on women’s lives. “I wanted to take these symbols of Africa and bring them into a new perspective,” she says.

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Nadine Ijewere

Tallawah features portraits that celebrate the creative roots of Jamaican communities. This project was a journey of self-discovery for Nadine Ijewere, a photographer who’s worked with luxury fashion brands such as Vogue, Dior, and Hermes. Growing up, she didn’t feel represented in fashion images and didn’t see anyone who looked like her. “We are diverse, and that should be reflected,” she says.

JeongMee Yoon

Photographer JeongMee Yoon showcases gender conditioning and the impact of consumerism in her series The Pink and Blue Projects. The photos show children in their rooms with their colorful belongings. You’ll notice explosions of pink and blue and lots of stuff, which feels overwhelming. “These kinds of divided guidelines for the two genders deeply affect children’s gender group identification and social learning,” she says.

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Stefanie Moshammer

Photographer Stefanie Moshammer shows beauty and aging in a different light and has noticed her perception shift and change with this project. Her series, because, Grandmother, shows her grandparents against colorful backdrops holding props and wearing costumes. “It is harder to document something I am so familiar with because it is challenging to look at it from another perspective,” she says.

Photography is an art, and seeing it from different perspectives helps us understand the bigger picture and the world around us; when it comes to what can be done to support women in this industry - more assignments, and mentorship.

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Alejandra Cerball is a journalist, writer, and travel + lifestyle blogger. She writes about travel, sustainable fashion, marketing + branding, and empowering women in business. alexcerball.com

McMillan Creative is a Seattle-based creative agency specializing in art direction, photography, marketing and design. Our style draws a young, energetic crowd to products and brands.