Customer Reviews

Women Photographers at National Geographic

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This book succeeds on several levels. As a book of photographs it follows the National Geographic tradition of high quality photographs printed in the best possible way. As a book on what it takes to be a National Geographic photographer it presents many stories behind the pictures shown. But above all that it presents to young women thinking about this as a career choice, the facts about what these women face day-to-day. It pulls no punches as it discusses how some have faced the choices of how to have a family and this as a career or to leave behind one or the other. I will certainly recommend this to the girls I work with as an up front view of this remarkable group of photographers.

The pictures are great -- a collection of the best pictures from the portfolios of some the world's best photographers.

But photographers need to buy this book for the sake of reading the wonderful essays by Cathy Newman.

Newman talks about the dilemma particular to professional women of all kinds -- trying to balance your work with your private life. She opens with a description of a group picture of NGS photogs back in the 20's. Every one in the picture was a man. Then she profiles a few of the first women to work for the Society. She showcases the experiences of five women who've worked extensively for the Geographic.

I enjoyed this book. I hope that it gets put into some curriculums at journalism school. I had never considered how photojournalism might mix with a home life. The short answer is, not very well. The long answer is that the problematic issues become very central to planning a career and a marriage. This book focuses on that very question. It would have been very prescient back in school.

Being a female photograher, I absolutely LOVE this coffee table book! National Geographic has done a great job of selecting and piling together an awesome book, a book that shows, to me anyway, how we are special. We see things through the lens of our cameras that man can NOt! Who's to say it's a Man's world anyway!! These women and their photographs are an inspiration to me!

This is a wonderful documentation of the photography by some of the great women who have worked for National Geographic. Besides the inspiring photos, the essays are well written. Great coffee table book and a must for any woman photographer.