Image by: Joel Sartore
Lynn Johnson is a woman photojournalist that has set
the bar. She finds herself in a profession that is still dominated by males,
but she does not let that interfere with her career. She mentions in her video
interview that “gender is
factor and you cannot ignore it”. Lynesy Addario also, a female
photojournalist is known for her award winning photographs and never giving up
attitude. But she is also admired because of her gender and the role it plays
in photojournalism. Addario has traveled the world to capture war, famine and
death that takes place on this earth. She has found herself in devastating situations
but continued to go back into the battlefield. Why? Well, her motivation is what
drives her to continue her profession as a photojournalist. In an interview
about her recent published book “It’s What I Do” she says: “it’s a calling, it takes
over who I am. People ask me why I do this…and it is what makes me most alive,
it is what I believe in, it is my happiness, and it’s what I do”.
Image source: http://itswhatidobook.com/
Everyone faces their own hardships and personal
battles. The struggle of one person is not the same for another.
Photojournalist like Gordon Parks encourages others like himself to “don’t let the blackness
weigh you down”. Some can say that Spinder Martin also believed in that as
well. Martin was a African American photojournalist during the Civil Rights
movement in Alabama. Being of his black decent made it difficult for him to
rise, but he never gave up. In short summary of his history as a photographer they
describe his work ethic as a black photographer: “Those same chills were
transferred to a real battle field for human rights, and there arose in Spider
a rage for the atrocities committed by his fellow Alabamians against his fellow
Alabamians”. He was strong willed and wanted justice for his people. He was
motivated and produced amazing photographs that made history what it is today. Martin
Luther King acknowledges his integrity and mentions: “Spider, we could havemarched, we could have protested forever, but if it weren’t for guys like you,it would have been for nothing. The whole world saw your pictures. That’s why the Voting Rights Act passed”.
People like Spider Martin were a part of greatness, and even better, they
shined the light on news that changed our world today.
Image by: Spider Martin
Image Source: http://www.locationshub.com/blog/2015/1/26/selma-proudly-filmed-on-location-in-alabama-and-Georgia
Photojournalist #3- ZORIAH
Image by: unknown
Image source: http://petapixel.com/tag/warphotographer/
Image source: http://petapixel.com/tag/warphotographer/
Zoriah Miller, often known as just Zoriah is a
humanitarian aid, involved in disaster management and also a war
photojournalist. He is driven by the crisis that occurs in developing countries
and works to spread awareness. In an interview about how he became a photojournalist
and why he states: “I decided
to pick up my camera after a long hiatus and set out to document disasters and
humanitarian crisis. I believed that I could use the power and emotion of the
still image to educate the people and suffering in the developing world”. He
travels the world to capture the worst moments of people’s lives. It is his
motivation to share this with others around the world. His images carry messages;
messages that change people forever. There are other war photojournalist, like
Felix Masi. He too is motivated to share the stories of the people suffering in
his community in Kenya. In an interview with InFocus, he states: “I knew my heart was to be a
photographer of telling peoples stories”. He grew up in this country, he
walked throughout the slums, and that inspired him. Like Zoriah, he too risks
his life to bring forward the news that takes place in third world countries.
Image by: Zoriah
Image source: http://paradigmmagazine.com/2012/07/30/paradigm-magazine-zoriah-miller-interview/
Image source: http://paradigmmagazine.com/2012/07/30/paradigm-magazine-zoriah-miller-interview/
Motivation is something that comes from within. It is
a fire that burns inside us and pushes us to accomplish things we could never
image. Each day that I wake up, there is something that pushes me to continue
to go to school, and work and be a good daughter. What is that fire made of
inside of me? My family is my motivation. I was raised by a family of women.
They are each so strong, brave and smart. But they are all so unhappy. They
never to risks to do the things they wanted. They have taught me how to view
this world, and how to live life, my way. They have instilled in me the power
of happiness, peace, love and laughter, to never give up on my dreams. I carry
that with each day, and I never leave it behind. Just like the photojournalist
Lynsey Addario, I am not afraid to stand out in a world that is dominant by
men. Like Spider Martin, I want to witness history. And like Zoriah, I want to
help share stories of the beautiful people in the world. But in order for me to
do this, I have to take each day, step by step. Like these photojournalist, I
have to take that leap onto the other side, and live. Live fully, live happily,
and live now.
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