Desert View Watchtower (1932) - Mary Colter, Architect
[Updated 2007.10.15 - I've been collecting links to great women photographers - gathered in my Women in the Field archive to share. Email me with suggestions to grow this list.]
I couldn't help but notice during my 17 days on the road what a low proportion of "serious" outdoor photographers that I met in the national parks were female. Let's define "serious" pretty loosely: using an SLR type camera and a tripod. I can remember meeting only two, both shooting with their husbands and using his cast-off gear.
What is this about? I've read enough articles, speculating about how women choose different (read that as more cuddly) subject matter, or might be afraid of the technology, or otherwise committed to families, etc. I don't have the answer, but I have some observations.
First, being out there at dawn, alone, is breaking every mama's rule about her daughter being safe. I don't know if the guys think about a location in terms of "am I safe there alone?" but it's a factor in every dawn site I choose. Since I hate outdoor shooting in a crowd, this is a hard factor to optimize.
But the perceived threats go both ways. Just as I ask, "am I safe?" so to does my subject. Critters and rocks don't care, but with our human subjects, I have the advantage here over the guys. I would like to think it's my sparkling personality that puts people at ease, but I know that my gender works for me here. Even in my camo hunting pants, I am no threat to anyone. I can make photos of strangers' children and it's taken as a compliment, where a guy might be considered a danger to that same child.
With in the photography tribe itself, there's some interesting sociology. I bump into so few other women that I can't be certain that the next point is a gender thing, but it amuses me to no end to watch the "serious" guy in the heavily-laden photo vest size up my camera gear and his reaction when his stuff comes up short. Who cares? I'd much rather talk to you about who you are, where you're from, where you've been, how much fun/hot/cold it is than to mentally compare gear, judge one another and pass up an opportunity to make a human contact.
Again, because female sample size is so low, I can't be sure, but so far, only men have felt compelled to:
- assume that my husband is the photog, even if I'm carrying most of the gear,
- insist on telling me their outdoor photography war stories and engage in other forms of compulsive macho one-upsmanship,
- instruct me, unbidden, on how to use features on my camera,
- step right in front of me to get their shot after looking me straight in the eye.
I assume that most of the outdoor photographers I meet, especially at the national parks, are hunting for trophy photos to take back and put on their office walls. I try to stay out of the ego fumes and do what I need to do. I do notice that more seasoned guys bring a lot less ego into the field. I'm looking forward to meeting other women out there, and checking out whether our experiences match up.
In the meantime, I have one bit of advice for the guys: try smiling more. Trust me, I'm not going to stick my tripod into the holes you personally drilled into the overlook; I have my own pictures to make. Let's just enjoy being among the few privileged to see the sunrise in another of America's treasured parks, ok?
Comments (4)
I am one of the women with her boyfriend's castoff, and he's by far the more serious photographer, so I have been thinking about this since reading your post. (But he does use my film SLR.) It seems like the photographers who are sizing up your equipment are not necessarily as serious photographers as they are serious gadget people (or trophy-hunters as you said). Good photographers know that fancy equipment helps but that you can take a good photo with the most basic of cameras. They also know that it's not a competition and there are enough good photos out there for everyone.
Posted by Airhen | May 15, 2007 10:21 AM
Posted on May 15, 2007 10:21
Ann - I love this photo and also your comments on serious women photographers. My ex-husband and I used to visit Yellowstone every year during the last two weeks in September. Basically the park was empty except for a few Europeans and hordes of professional photographers. We would be surrounded by them in the local cafes during breakfast. They would have been up with the sun. I can't remember a woman among them. They reminded me of modern "mountain men" hunting the perfect photo and enjoying their solitude. Love you being out there. Charlotte
Posted by Charlotte Jensen | May 15, 2007 10:34 AM
Posted on May 15, 2007 10:34
AT:
Just keep on taking those fabulous photos! Your work speaks for itself!
P.S. I want a trophy photo for my office...or maybe two or even three...
PG
Posted by Trish Goede | May 15, 2007 11:53 AM
Posted on May 15, 2007 11:53
Have to agree with Airhen: As an experienced XY gear carrier (stand here, hold this, get that) trailing a pretty talented XX photog around, I do find that most of the males who assume I'm the lead dog are just gearheads. But they are also a pretty rude lot, setting up in other photog's sightlines and making inordinate amounts of noise. I especially remember the knucklehead who jumped in between my wife and the tough shot of the secretive Northern Pymgy Owl she was lining up, yammering "Watcha lookin' at? Somethin" good?" He never even knew the bird was there, even after I ejected him. There is a reason I do not own guns and it isn't because I'm a pacifist.
Posted by Robert Marc | May 15, 2007 1:29 PM
Posted on May 15, 2007 13:29