During these past months, I’ve come across some fantastic female photographers.
While some turn their noses up at female-only lists, The Phoblographer strongly believes they’re essential: not just when the moment suits society, but always, as giving a voice and a platform for fantastic female photographers is something we’ll always do. Lockdowns have granted the opportunity to explore some new and exciting work — that’s been one benefit of this whole experience. I’ve made some great connections throughout this time, and I’m going share with you some of the female photographers I’ve discovered.
1. Denisse Ariana Pérez
Denisse Ariana Pérez is a multi-disciplined creative. Not only is she an artist and photographer, but she’s a writer too. Focusing on her photography, Pérez has stunning portraiture. It’s well thought out, creative, and executed to a professional standard. She has the ability to bring out emotion from her subjects, allowing them to express themselves freely. Bonus points are on offer as Pérez shoots film: something we’re particularly fond of here at The Phoblographer.
2. Elena Alexandra
Shooting street photography around the globe, Elena Alexandra has a knack for identifying compelling moments. The deep colors and high contrast consistent throughout her work is especially pleasing. And she’s not afraid of telling a good story through her images: something that can be lacking in today’s style of street photography. Aside from her street photography, Alexandra also enjoys creating self-portraits. They’re as equally as fantastic and give viewers another opportunity to appreciate her creativity.
3. Sarmistha Bera
Sarmistha Bera describes herself as “a woman with many passions.” They include gardening, painting, and photography! Clearly, all of them influence each other, allowing Bera to let her creative juices flow. Bera is as equally comfortable photographing humans as she is animals, giving her body of work a nice, varied touch. National Geographic has featured her work on eight separate occasions: a testament to how strong her work is.
4. Miranda Barnes
Born in Brooklyn, Miranda Barnes is a photographer with an impressive resume. Commissions include The New York Times, Huck Magazine, and Dazed. Barnes has a clear focus on documentary and social challenges, and her work aims to teach and provoke thought in its viewers. She has some very solid ideas when it comes to turning her lens on the world. And this is highlighted in her most recent series, where she photographed incarcerated men at Green Have prison.
5. Regina Gavrilov
Regina Gavrilov is a candid street shooter with a fine art flair. Not one for pretty little photos, Gavrilov creates meaningful, raw images with an aesthetic that reminds me of the analog days. What’s particularly impressive about her work is her decision making when it comes to color and black and white. Many photographers are guilty of trying to use black and white to hide a poor photograph. But for Gavrilov, she opts for the classic finish to make an already impactful image even better.
6. Keturah Keita
Not much is known about Keturah Keita, other than the fact she is a highly skilled portrait photographer. And that’s all I need to know. The skill needed to be a good portrait photographer is often overlooked. Many believe once you master lighting, you’re on the path to greatness: that couldn’t further from the truth. The relationship between photographer and subject is by far the most impactful element of portraiture. And what’s evident in Keita’s work is that her subjects trust her to the point they can fully be themselves.
7. The Magical Window
The Magical Window is another secret shooter, who is not giving away her real name. But that doesn’t matter: it’s her work I was most attracted to. Located in beautiful Switzerland, her work ethic is second to none. Every day she goes outside, aiming to capture moments the world throws at her. The result of her hard work is a set of beautiful images full of stories. I certainly look forward to following this photographer’s development.
We Want to See More Female Photographers
While we’d love to spend all day online finding even more amazing female photographers, we have other things we need to do. That’s why we need your help. Please, in the comments below, let us know what female photographers we need to look for.
Lead image by Elena Alexandra. Used with permission.