Carolyn Cole (by Elyssa Marcus)

Carolyn Cole has been a female staff photographer at the LA Times for almost 15 years. She has been recognized for several series she has done in the past few decades including her work in Russia, the crisis in Haiti, and the siege of Morovia, Liberia, which she won the Pulitzer Prize for in 2004.  She became most famous from photographing Emil Matasareanu while he was dying after being shot by the police for robbing a bank.  With her photographs as evidence, his family filed for a wrongful death lawsuit.  Her second Pulitzer Prize came from the coverage of this event as well.

© Carolyn Cole
© Carolyn Cole
© Carolyn Cole

Sophie Calle (by Elyssa Marcus)

Sophie Calle's photographs are a depiction of the French Literary movement in the 1960s, also known as Oulipo.  Her work stemmed from a longing of her home city, Paris, after traveling for seven years and feeling a disconnect upon returning.  She wanted to re-establish connections to her city and its inhabitants.  The work she did, frequently depicted vulnerability.  People see her as a detective, as well, because she photographs strangers by following them and documenting the differences between their public and private lives.  Soon she had hired many specialists such as private investigators and psychologists to help her with her photographs of her subjects, that were very much anthropologic.  

© Sophie Calle
© Sophie Calle

Esther Bubley (by Elyssa Marcus)

Esther Bubley began her work as a photographer after being inspired by the first issue of the photo magazine Life, when she was in high school.  The photographs in the magazine featuring the Great Depression and the Farm Security Administration, made her want to do documentary photography as well as photojournalism work.  Since she was editor-in-chief of her schools yearbook- there were a majority of noticeable similarities between it and Life magazine.

Esther Bubley is an important female photography with a story that can be easily related to the lives of many modern day teenagers because she discovered her love for photography through an aspect of pop culture that featured subject matter that intrigued her.  These revelations are something that will not as each generation passes, her story is just as relevant as ever.

© Esther Bubley
© Esther Bubley
© Esther Bubley

James Nachtwey: Shattered (9/11) (by Elyssa Marcus)

Eight years ago from today, was a devastating day for all of America, specifically New York City.  A photographer James Nachtwey was visiting from upstate and was able to take some photographs upon the 9.11 crash.  These images are powerful and upsetting.  As a local, I can't even recognize the area in the photos.  It neither resembles pre-WTC, nor today.  It reminds me of a deserted plot of land, not the most densely populated city in the US. Hopefully NYC will never look like this again.

© James Natchwey

© James Natchwey
© James Natchwey
© James Natchwey
© James Natchwey
© James Natchwey

Below Ground Zero: Emily Anne Epstein (by Elyssa Marcus)

Since September 11th is approaching, I felt it was appropriate to share a very touching and intriguing series of photographs taken by Emily Anne Epstein, a photo-journalist (who was discussed once before on TGP).  The collection is titled Below Ground Zero, taken shortly after 9/11/01.  These photos have been on display at the Ground Zero site since 2001, so anyone in the New York area should go take a look.  They can also be viewed at:

http://emilyanneepstein.com/photographs/groundzero/

Epstein's WTC photographs have been published in amNY and Newsday.  

© Emily Anne Epstein
© Emily Anne Epstein
© Emily Anne Epstein
© Emily Anne Epstein
© Emily Anne Epstein