As a transgender female photographer, transitioning later in life, I was looking for a way to celebrate Women Photographers. Such an expansive subject, where do I start.
My research identified a post in Analog Forever Magazine – “Twenty Women Film Photographers You Need to Know in 2022” by Shana Cruz-Thompson. The post resonated with me on two counts, first, I am a film photographer; second, it discussed the “female gaze.”
Let me share the specific sections of the post:
“Equity has progressed in the past century, but women continue to be under estimated. Since the advent of photography, it has been considered a boy’s club and women stood out as rebels and heroes for infiltrating the clubhouse. We shouldn’t be considered heroes for being women photographers but instead for how we insist on using the medium to tell our stories through our unique female gaze and a nuanced point-of-view.”
“Photography requires both grit and vulnerability, especially when using film. Like life, film is inherently unpredictable, and we need to be patient and present. It challenges us to reflect on our past choices as we learn through our mistakes. When using film, we need to remain open to various outcomes to see beauty in the mess when things fail miserably.”
Ladies, I have a question “Does gender impact the artists’ point of view?”
To distinguish ourselves as women photographers, it is important to celebrate who we are and our artwork. Please share your thoughts if this is an approach you use to promote yourself.
Personally, I believe that my life experiences, including the transitioning to a female photographer has influenced my artistic vision.
For those not familiar with my artwork, I select my subjects based on what speaks to me emotionally and feature floral and mushroom studies. My mission is to capture and present a unique perspective that engages the viewer and embodies a concept or tells a story. Fringed Tulip 1 and Oyster Mushroom 52 are two recent releases.
To read the full Analog Forever post and view the twenty women film photographers, follow: https://www.analogforevermagazine.com/features-interviews/20-women-film-photographers-2022
To see more of my artwork, please visit my website: https://www.dalemreidphotography.com/default.asp
