Photography is the art of reproducing pictures of people, nature or any depiction of values, sentiments, emotions, or actions through the instrument or device called camera. Like other discoveries the world of photography has undergone sudden and gradual changes from the camera without the film to the development of film with the method of photogram that is a method of making permanent images.
Life has taken a new dimension with the modern concept of photography. We have now various types of photography, like we have aerial photography, art photography, studio or advertising photography, outdoor and travel photography, photojournalism, and sports photography.
It is said the history has become more interesting because of those momentary clicks which gives life to past in present. And this meaningful life has the great of contribution of women folk in it like they are excelling in the field of medical sciences, teaching line, aeronautical sciences etc. they have made a special place in the field of photography also. Yes, once again the field which was considered as the men’s sole hierarchy. Actually hurdle is not the competition but it is the material used, which was not only smelly but has sort of hit and miss affair, which makes the profession a thought over for women, and moreover the equipments required for the photography are cumbersome.
The most illuminating fact still lies in the fact that women have entered in this profession way back during First World War. We have names like Lotte Jacobi, Aenne Biermann and Yva who have established themselves as renowned photographers of their time and have portrayed the pictures of self-dramatization. The way to success in this field was also not easy. Whenever the women used to shoot and work along with team of men or their husbands it was always their men co-partners or their husbands who used to pocket fame.
In this field also we have classes. First class is the behind the scene class which takes care of all the printing work from the negatives for which they get very less remunerations. Second class is assistance classes, which assist the women customers in toilettes, sit at reception, take orders, collect the cash and maintain good PR’S. Third class is the class of actual photographers who has brains to master their skills in this field. It has given more successful names of women in this field than . Various exhibitions have been organized to depict the journey of women photographers from the First World War to the period of Nazism.
Substantial cash awards are announced every year for upcoming women photographers, competitions and many federations have also been formed to encourage few women talent in this field. We have names like:
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Christina Broom is regarded as the first British woman press photographer. The number of events she covered included Derby Day, at Epsom, Surrey, investitures of monarchs, women suffrage demonstrations, the Oxford and Cambridge Boat race, and the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace.
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Nancy Ford cones is another name who operated in Ohio. She received second prize for a photograph entitled “ Threading the Needle” in a Kodak competition.
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Clementina Hawarden was awarded a medal by the (then) Photographic Society, though she died aged forty-two, before receiving the award. The Victoria and Albert Museum, London owns many of her prints.
And the names are still adding. The work of photography by women presents striking portrayal of beauty, strife, sorrow, and dignity. Many so-called photographic works by the women bog the admirers with its picaresque quality. And in this they are more careful than men to tailor their work simply and effectively and which provides the reader with a fascinating and diverse view of photography at its best.