Beyond the Frame 45/
Marking International Women’s Day with pictures of a Women’s co-operative in Nepal, a look at National Geographic’s ‘Women of Vision’, and the pressures young women face in the age of the smartphone.
International Women’s Day
Saturday 8th March, 2025 is International Women’s Day.
Interesting fact: International Women’s Day was first marked by more than a million women and men in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on the 19th March, 1911.
A women’s co-operative in Nepal
I made this quick, unplanned portrait in the village of Kakani, in rural Nepal, whilst on assignment for CAWST, the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology.
I met with members of the Shree Khanideri Sanokishan Krishi Sanakari Women’s Co-operative, a group of women who take responsibility for many village matters from agricultural practices to building development, micro financing, transportation, education…
Would you be impressed to learn that I remembered the name of the Shree Khanideri Sanokishan Krishi Sanakari Women’s Co-operative off the top of my head? I’m not saying that I did. I just wonder whether that would impress you.
Community Meeting
I think it would be hard to find a more cheerful group of civic leaders. The co-operative’s charismatic president, Nirmala Tamang, ran through the agenda. Agreement on each point was punctuated by laughter and a little good-natured teasing.
After the meeting, I began to make a series of portraits of each individual member. As you’ll see in the contact sheet below, our portrait session was interrupted by one of the children, I believe her name was Sita, who was keen to be included.
A quick change in framing produced the photo at the top of this newsletter, a picture I am fond of. I like the sense of maternal protection that’s suggested by the way Sita’s hands are held. The picture reminds me of the gentle determination and civic pride the women exhibited.
A different type of President
I needed a second portrait of Nirmala, the co-operative’s president. We found a spot in the sunlight with the rugged landscape in the background. Nirmala adopted a serious “I am posing for my portrait” expression that people often assume is appropriate, but her characteristic smile was absent.
I’ve written about an extremely simple but effective strategy previously but it’s worth repeating. A photographer can have great rapport with a subject but as soon as a camera appears, the dynamic can shift. The camera becomes a literal physical barrier between the two, most often the photographer closes the eye that’s not already hidden behind the camera, the subject of the picture poses stiffly, like they’re sitting in a Victorian portrait studio, and their personality retreats behind a mask.
I’ll typically make one or two frames at that point but then, keeping the camera steady, I’ll look around the side of the camera, re-establish eye contact, smile, but continue to press the shutter release button.
It’s like playing peek-a-boo and you’ll know how children find that inexplicably hilarious. Solemnity is almost invariably replaced with laughter. It’s as if the people on either side of the camera have both acknowledged the silliness of the situation.
In this sequence, Nirmala provides the definitive example of that shift. It took exactly five seconds for her serious expression to be replaced with full-on, head back, joyous laughter.
Lila
Here’s effervescent Lila from Kolkata illustrating the same concept in another five-second sequence.
Lila, by the way, lives in one of Kolkata’s poorest and most densely populated slum districts but is studying with the hope of joining the police force. How a young woman manages to possess an abundance of joie de vivre and youthful exuberance amidst such grinding poverty continues to be a source of amazement to me.
Try my “peek-a-boo” suggestion and let me know if it works for you too. If you don’t see the same results, it might be because your face simply isn’t as funny as mine. (You can insert your own punchline here) 😬
Here’s one more example from Nepal.
Once the spell has been broken, the person on the other side of the camera will always feel more relaxed. I don’t think I’m overstating it to suggest that there’s a greater sense of collaboration once the laughter has broken out. The photographer/subject dynamic is replaced by something much less restrained.
If you often make portraits, staged or impromptu, and have developed any successful strategies for making subjects feel at ease, let me know in the comments.
Women of Vision
We’re celebrating women—which is self-evidently something that ought to be a daily occurrence, not an annual event—and that’s something that National Geographic have managed to do in style with their Women of Vision compilation.
“This new volume of 11 photographers—all celebrated, brave, and talented women, each with their own vision—gives us a chance to investigate how the X chromosome might influence Cartier-Bresson’s ‘decisive moment.’ What is in women’s hearts, minds, and eyes when they choose a subject to photograph?” — from the Foreword by Ann Curry
I’ve chosen the work of just two photographers to share, although I could easily have chosen any of the 11. They are all inspiring.
Erika Larsen
Erika Larsen’s photo essay, Sámi -Walking With Reindeer, was made over four years, during which she worked as a beaga, or housekeeper.
“She cooked, cleaned, sewed, worked with reindeer, and learned the Sámi language… before shooting a single image.” — from Women of Vision.
It’s evident that becoming part of the community allowed Erika to create more intimate images than a visitor might have found. We don’t always have that luxury but even if we don’t have the option to spend months or years with people, there’s much to commend what I call the “Tea first, photography second” approach. Time spent in conversation before reaching for a camera reassures people that you’re genuinely interested in them as fellow human beings, not only as subjects for your photographic aspirations.
Lynsey Addario
Lynsey Addario is a photojournalist who has documented several conflicts for the New York Times.
“I have a whole process before I photograph. I usually spend hours talking before I even take my camera out.” — Lynsey Addario
Lynsey’s memoir, It’s what I do, is an account of her challenging work told with great honesty. She worked in Afghanistan before and after the arrival of the Taliban, documented the Iraq war, and the burned villages of Darfur. It’s probably no surprise that Lynsey has been taken hostage twice, once in Libya by Qaddafi’s troops.
Girlhood in the Smartphone era
Philippa James was a winner of the LensCulture Emerging Talent Awards 2024.
I’m not foolish enough to write about the challenges faced by women. I had planned to ask Mrs. G. to contribute to this edition but she’s currently snowed under writing a report on—guess what—sexual exploitation and abusive behaviour. If you want data to illustrate the challenges faced by women, she has more than enough. And, no, it’s not exclusively men who abuse women and most men are inherently decent but, as she’ll tell you, “Not all men—but nearly always men.”
One might imagine that after 114 years of International Women’s Days, balance and equity would have been achieved but it seems like we take two steps forward and two steps back. As one inequality is slowly and begrudgingly surrendered, another appears. It’s a never-ending game of feminist whack-a-mole.
Philippa James has explored some of the pressures that young women find themselves under in the age of Social Media and the smartphone.
“On the one hand, appearing desirable and beautiful is seen as a good thing; it’s a source of power and validation. Or so they are constantly told by society, media, peers and family. And on the other hand, they’re shamed and victim-blamed—told to cover up, to restrict and suppress. It’s as if they are asked to be both Madonna and whore all at once. To be chaste, innocent and pure, but also sexy, wild and desirable.” — Philippa James
You can find more of Philippa’s photographs from this project on the Lens Culture website.
Photography contests and resources for and about women
There are many contests, grants and organisations that seek to elevate women. Unsurprisingly, I’m not an expert in this area—because I’ve never needed to be! But I’m very conscious of the need for underrepresented sections of society to be actively encouraged and promoted and, of course, for those of us who have benefitted from our unearned advantages to help level the playing field. These are just a few of the resources that I’ve discovered.
The V&A Parasol Foundation Prize for Women in Photography
The V&A Parasol Foundation Prize for Women in Photography is an annual initiative dedicated to identifying, supporting, and championing innovative women artists working in the field of contemporary photography.
International Women Photography Contest
This prestigious international photography competition is open to all artists, whether amateur or professional, who wish to highlight the essence, strength, beauty, resilience, and impact of women.
Open to women photographers worldwide, professional and amateur, working in all mediums, styles, and schools of thought.
Women Photograph is a non-profit that launched in 2017 to elevate the voices of women and non-binary visual journalists.
An annual photography contest aimed at elevating the voices and work of women photographers
Professional Women Photographers
Professional Women Photographers (PWP) is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization dedicated to the advancement of women photographers.
The Alpha Female Award is focused on supporting and championing women photographers around the globe.
If you know of a photography contest or organisation that exists to promote women, please leave details in the comments.
Kiva
And finally, a mention for Kiva, a Microfinance organisation which provides life-changing finance for people, especially women, who wish to enhance their livelihood and improve the lives of their families.
“After receiving the credit, my life changed. I know that I have a job, I have something to work on. Being self-reliant. That is what I am most proud of.” — Neriman, Turkey
I have seen on many occasions how a small amount of money can profoundly improve the life of a person who has limited access to financial resources.
Kiva supporters loan relatively small amounts, typically $25, to an entrepreneur who might want to buy a sewing machine or fertiliser for crops in order to support their small business.
Over time, loans are repaid from profits and the original investment can be re-loaned.
“I realised it is not a lack of skills that holds many people back, but a lack of opportunity.” — Kiran, Nepal
I’ve been a Kiva supporter for 15 years, which I only mention as a preface to saying that over 90% of my loans have been fully repaid and re-loaned. I’ve been able to support nearly fifty entrepreneurs in a dozen countries; including a taxi driver in Mongolia, the owner of a grocery store in Nepal, a Samoan seamstress, several farmers in Kenya and Cambodia, a dairy herdsman in Kyrgyzstan…
Financing women helps move gender equity forward.
Kiva is especially keen to offer support for women, who often face greater obstacles than men when starting a business. “Over 175 countries have laws preventing women from fully participating in the economy, like opening bank accounts and earning credit.” — Kiva
“When women gain access to finance through Kiva loans, they experience boosts in agency, confidence, and financial decision-making abilities.” — Kiva
My inelegant but sincere request is this: should you be in a position to make a practical investment to mark International Women’s Day, please consider making a small loan to an entrepreneurial woman through Kiva or a similar Microfinance organisation.
Now then, I received a box of goodies from the nice people at Polaroid today so I know what I will be doing this weekend. 😁
I hope the weekend brings you an opportunity to do something that brings you joy. And if that happens to be photography, may you be blessed with gorgeous, golden light.
Until next time, go well.
PS - I compiled an International Women’s Day music playlist to inspire me whilst writing this edition. Several readers have expressed a liking for my shared playlists and I’m grateful to those of you who have shared your musical favourites. Enjoy 😁
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Wonderful as always Gavin, and delighted to say we have been supporters for Kiva for as long as you. Such a great way to support others in the world.
So inspiring to see women beautiful, inside and out, despite their apparent lack of material supply. The universe readily supplies...especially to those who are deserving and selfless. It never fails. Virtue is its own reward every time.