Maggie Steber was originally from Texas born in 1949, has completed stories in over 64 countries around the world. According to the National Geographic, “Her images have earned several prestigious honors, including the Leica Medal of Excellence and World Press Photo awards. NGM has published her essays on Miami, the African slave trade, the Cherokee Nation, sleep, soldiers’ letters, Dubai and a story on the science of memory that featured a touching sidebar on Steber’s mother, Madje, and her struggle with dementia.” She has had many accomplishments and has appeared in many magazines around the world. National Geographic also stated, “Early in her career she worked as a reporter and photographer for the Galveston Daily News and as a picture editor for the Associated Press in New York.” She not only has been a reporter and photographer but she is very well rounded and has been an editor as well. Her honors include, “The Leica Medal of Excellence, First Prize Spot News World Press, Photo Foundation News, First Prize Magazine Documentary in Pictures of the Year (iPOY), Overseas Press Club Oliver Rebbot Award for Best Photographic Coverage from Abroad, The Medal of Honor for Distinguished Service to Journalism from University of Missouri.” She is in inspiration to women photojournalists today.
Maggie’s mother’s dementia inspired her to photograph her mother during the time of illness when she was moved out of her home in Austin Texas. She never let her photograph her until she was ill enough that her defenses came down. The photographs were initially for Maggie and her coping with her mothers illness, but it all turned into a film called The Rite of Passage that made it’s debut at the Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn New York. When discussing the remembrance and memories of her project and mother, Maggie stated, “You have to live with that for the rest of your life and I just think if you can live with the happier memories, the discovery and seeing somebody blossom even as they’re disappearing right in front of you, you have that to hold onto. And maybe it is the best thing you’ll ever do.” She is truly an inspiration not only as a photographer and journalist but as a daughter. Her story is not only highly researched and unique but it will many many families who struggle with the disease of dementia.
As Professor Nordell stated, "...I believe that women photojournalists along with women in many different professions have encountered barriers unlike any of there male counter parts have endured." Women can achieve what men can we are equals but we tend to judge the capabilities of women and their choice of career more than men. An example of how gender is and should not be a barrier for the essence of one's achievements and work is as follows, "When Margaret Bourke-White photographed the Nazi death camps for Life magazine, no one cared if she was a woman or not." Her images told the story and that was that." Female police officers like women photojournalists are sometimes separated because of gender and misunderstood. Indie L.J Mitchell a retired police officer has a lot of insight and experience with this issue. As Mitchell stated, “It can be different for every woman but in general, there are a few assumptions made by some male cops and some civilians.” These assumptions can be offensive for a woman who had worked as hard as she did to get where she did in her career. People often discriminate woman police officers thinking they are not as tough as men officers. Mitchell gave a statement about one of her experiences, “Many civilian women would warn me to call for back up (although it was usually on its way) if they were in a fight with their boyfriend and he was a big guy.Most guys would go into their flirtation mode and even try to get me to go out with them!” So while she was doing her job she was not even taken seriously at times by being asked out while reporting to a call. Another assumption Mitchell talked about was that women cannot handle the job physically the way a man can, she stated, “Interestingly, most women are better at calming people down with verbal techniques so they don’t often have to be as physical. But when the adrenaline hits, most women can get that superhuman strength they need, to contain a suspect when necessary.” Women and men are different but that is a benefit in my opinion, I believe that gender does not define one’s capabilities. Another important women in the profession of photojournalism was Marion Post Wolcott and the newspaper that she worked for decided to view her working as a photojournalist as a women. According to the Prints and Photographs reading room, "Newspaper photography was considered such an unusual occupation that after The Evening Bulletin published an article titled "Strange Jobs for Women. Wolcott's occupation and portrait headed the list followed by a dentist, a produce vendor at the Reading Terminal Market, a wallpaper hanger, a cobbler, an oyster opener, a barber, and two sisters who worked as butchers." Society decided that this jobs were unusual for women, because at the time it was uncommon, but women had to start somewhere. Women like Wolcott and Steber helped paved the way for their fellow women who don't pursue what society would consider "usual".
Another huge stereotype female police officers face is being defined as homosexual, when yes some are, but being a police officer does not mean you are homosexual. It happens with men in the dance world as well, I saw that first hand as a dancer any male dancer was deemed homosexual without even being asked their preference. Mitchell’s stance on this issue was, “Female cops are also stereotyped as being gay a lot and some are. But if you are heterosexual, it’s assumed you will probably have sex with most of the male officers. This is an “inside” the department problem, but it’s a problem nonetheless. And it’s part of being a female cop.” She proves that there is a sense of constantly having to prove herself over and over.
Photo by: Unknown
Photo Source: http://shifter.media/dispatches-maggie-steber/
Photo Created: 2016
Rule of Thirds: The subject is not directly in the center of the frame, she is offset to right of the picture. The angle of her body placement is impactful. She is almost in the center of the frame but her body angle makes her towards the outer third on the right if you divide this image into three's vertically.
Black and White: This image is black and white and it magnifies the emotions the subject (Maggie Steber) is showing. If it was in color I don't think it would be as powerful of a shot. It's very classic and simple and shows nothing but the pure joy and laughter she is showing.
Background: The background of this image compliments the subject well, it is out of focus so that she is the main source of attention in this image. The blurry background helps improve the sense of joy of the image even more. The subject being the only portion of the photo in focus helps create more and more feelings for me the more I view this image.
I picked this image because after all I read about Maggie's life, it shows that even after the hardest of times you can still pick yourself back up and enjoy the life you have been given. The more I look at this picture that happier it makes me.
Photo by: Maggie Steber
Photo Source: http://www.imagedeconstructed.com/post/spotlight-on-maggie-steber
Photo Created: Unknown
Shadows: The use of shadows is quite powerful in this image. The hands of the Doctor at UCLA who cut this alzheimer's affected brain for Maggie to photograph are not only included but they help make the image as powerful as it is. The shadows in this photo add dimension.
Contrast: The contrast is high and there are a lot of very bright areas (the gloves) and dark areas (the brain slices). The contrast adds to the mood of this image, it makes it more eery and scientific looking.
Keep it simple: The image is very clean and simplified. The white almost marble looking table with only the few tools the hands that cut, and the slices of brain. I love how simple the photo is it makes it more representational and intrigues the viewer.
I picked this image because it shows how Maggie learned to accept her mother's condition and it hits home because my grandmother died in result from her dementia. I love how abstract and clean this image is. As a nursing major I love how it compares a brain without alzheimer's to one who has gone through the process of it. It is a very powerful photo and very unique I have never seen anything like it myself.
Photo By: Unknown
Photo Source: https://improvingpolice.wordpress.com/2015/05/27/women-police-the-way-forward/
Photo Created: Unknown
Quality of Light: The lighting goes very well with the era of the photograph. I am not exactly sure when this image was taken but the role of women officers in these days was to do parking enforcement, served as jail matrons, or working with juvenile divisions. The light is engaging, it really shows contrast between their white gloves and uniforms.The direction of the light is almost right onto the faces of these young women.
Texture: The texture seems somewhat rough to me, again I think it impacts the history of the photograph more. It helps create a sense of empowerment.
Subject's expression: The subjects look overly posed and they are all smiling big except for one woman. The body image fits the facial expression it is a very posed photograph which is typical because this image was probably including all the woman in this department and was probably hung on the wall at the department station.
I chose this image because it shows how far women police officers have come. They are equal to men now, they definitely do not wear skirts. They are included with the men of the department when images are taken, instead of taking separate pictures of the men and women.
