Extraordinary Women with Cameras

1 review for Extraordinary Women with Cameras

1. 

   Gloria September 26, 2022

   Why did it take us so long to write a great book for kids on famous women photographers? I don’t know, but I’m glad this book is here. I plan to put it in the hands of my grand-niece and grand-nephew who, though under 10 years old, have already shown an interest in photography. This is just the book for them! The table of contents tells me that the authors are covering the territory: Dorothea Lange, Annie Leibovitz, Imogen Cunningham…and many more. They are not talking about only contemporary photographers but those from the 19th century as well. Glad to see that!

   Also gratifying to see is that the book includes women of color and of nationalities other than American. So important for children (and adults!) to see. The authors give a brief description of the particular photographer’s niche in the world of photography, as well as a bit of description of the photographer herself. I love that the subtitle to Vivian Maier’s chapter is “secret photographer“. Ain’t it the truth? I also appreciate the sub text “grandmother of photography” for Imogen Cunningham. I love her work and it is a fitting title.

   Having read many books to my son and other children over the years, I recognize when children’s books do not condescend and this book does not. Each author’s section has a fun cartoon drawing of the photographer and a short, but descriptive, piece on the photog. Enough to give you an idea of who each one is, and the notion of whether the reader might want to pursue further inquiry. Somehow, until now it never occurred to me that there would be women photographers who made a point of being on the scene with cameras with the suffragists in the early feminist movement. Christina Broome was such a photojournalist and I was very happy to learn that when I read this book.

   The chapters on the various photographers include a section called “your turn!“ which gives suggestions to the child reader as to what she or he could try in their own photographic efforts. I know my grand-niece and grand-nephew will love having such suggestions. The book also includes answers to questions that the authors anticipate such as: what is a self- portrait. The authors point out to the reader that, if you ever took a selfie, and who hasn’t today, you’ve taken a self-portrait! Perhaps most important, the writing conveys the humanity of these photographers and emphasizes the struggles of many of them. For example, the authors tell us that Gerda Taro was killed while covering the Spanish Civil War when she was just 26 years old. The book moves us to feel as well as to learn.

   Speaking of learning, I have read several books on various photographers but learned much here about women professionals I had never heard of. I am grateful the authors did their research and wrote a perfect book for young readers to learn about what impressive things women have done with a camera.