Chapter Six: Women Photojournalists - Trials and Triumphs

Mary Ellen Mark (1940 - )

Mary Ellen Mark was my female photojournalist of choice due to the fact that she is internationally renowned in the industry and has won an array of prestigious awards throughout her career. It made sense to choose Mark due to the fact that she was born in 1940 and is still alive today. As a result, her career has spanned decades of harsh inequality and male dominance with regards to photojournalistic opportunities and exposure. The talent of many female photojournalists was overlooked and discarded and sexism was prevalent. However, on the plus side, Mark also experienced the digital revolution and a shift to more equal opportunities for photojournalists and a whole new world regarding technological advancements. In today’s society, women frequently cover conflict and war zones in countries such as Libya and Afghanistan, and they are not phased by the potential danger and male photojournalists are subjected to these same risks. This colossal development truly epitomizes the photojournalism revolution over the past seventy five (plus) years).

Mark was born March 20, 1940 in Philadelphia, and at the tender age of nine years old, she began taken photos using a Box Brownie camera. At high school, she was a skilled artist and also became the head cheerleader. Initially, Mark attended the University of Pennsylvania and received a BFA degree in art history and painting. She later obtained a photojournalism Masters. At the conclusion of graduate school, Mark had the opportunity to travel and photograph in a number of European countries as a result of the Fulbright Scholarship (source 1). Many believe that Mark’s move to New York City really caused her career to blossom (source 2). Here, Mark turned her attention to society’s outcasts, in particular, drug addicts, the homeless, and prostitutes (source 3). Mark explained, "I'm just interested in people on the edges. I feel an affinity for people who haven't had the best breaks in society. What I want to do more than anything is acknowledge their existence,” (source 2). Mark is not only a notorious photojournalist, she has written a number of books and also worked within the film industry (source 2).

Mark received a number of accolades for her work, including: Page One Award for Excellence in Journalism, Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, The Phillipe Halsman Award for Photojournalism, a Distinguished Photographer’s Award and many others (source 2). Despite these honors, her career was certainly not obstacle free, primarily due to gender. Mark and many other females were viewed as minorities and completely inferior to men. Although research leads me to believe that Mark’s career was not quite as hindered and troubled as some other prominent females, for instance, Marion Post Wolcott, who was subjected to extreme harassment in the form of urine and spit bombs. Mark and many other women were still at a disadvantage in their early years (M9: introductory video).

However, female photojournalists are not alone, women in other vocations are too plagued with sexual discrimination today. Female CEOs have a much tougher time being promoted to executive positions due to the glass ceiling effect. Similarly, you very rarely see females coaching male collegiate or professional sports teams, yet, men frequently coach women. Is this considered a double standard? In addition, you see many more male police officers and fire fighters than females, is this deliberate or unintentional? Furthermore, trade jobs, such as mechanics, plumbers, and electricians are also primarily dominated by males. In conclusion, while times have changed dramatically, sadly gender discrimination does still exist in many occupations today. In my opinion, this bias will never be completely extinguished from the work environment which is very frustrating, especially being a member of the “inferior” gender myself.

Photo by: Mary Ellen Mark

Image Source: http://dreamsromanceexcess.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/mary-ellen-mark-american-odyssey/

Year Created: 1990

Principle 1: Subject’s Expression

The main subject is overly posed and her appearance and behavior are unnatural and atypical for a child of her age, especially smoking the cigarette. However, her body language does fit her facial expression perfectly. In contrast, the secondary subject appears natural and filled with innocence. Her expression is blank but she stares right into the camera. She appears lost and confused.

Principle 2: What feelings did the image create?

I was absolutely horrified viewing this image for the first time. I was in disbelief that the innocent little girl was wearing makeup and smoking a real cigarette. It broke my heart actually and I immediately wondered where her parents were, what happened to her, and what was her story. This image had a very powerful effect on me personally and I made me realize how lucky I was to have such an innocent and blissful childhood.

Principle 3: Rule of Thirds

The primary subject is placed off center to the right and therefore this photograph adheres to the rule. In my opinion by not placing the chief subject exactly in the middle of the shot it makes the overall image more aesthetically pleasing.

Photo featured in: Silicon Valley Blogger

Image Source: http://www.thedigeratilife.com/blog/index.php/2007/05/29/traditional-jobs-for-men-and-women-the-gender-divide/

Year Created: 2007

Principle 1: Abstraction

The above image is tremendously representational. Typically, this occupation is dominated by males, however, photographing a woman/minority plumber on the job is very powerful, especially to the female audience. It is one tiny attempt to diminish the prevalent gender stereotypes that exist today.

Principle 2: Texture

The water pipes utilized in this image have a shiny texture and the sink has a smooth texture. In addition, the wall in the background also makes a contribution. The different textures working in the photograph reinforce realism and practicality and demonstrate that women can also be plumbers, not just men alone.

Principle 3: Use of Lines

The curves of the pipes work negatively as they draw your attention away from the main subject and toward the equipment at the left hand side of the image.

 

 

Sources:

 

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ellen_Mark
2. http://photography.about.com/od/famousphotographers/a/maryellenmarkbiography.htm
3. http://www.photography-art-cafe.com/famous-women-photographers.html