Trials and Triumphs
Homai Vyarawalla who was born in the year 1913 is now known to be India’s first female photojournalist. She was born into a family that worked at a travelling theatre hence why she ended up travelling the majority of her life before finally settled down in a city named Mumbai in India. A couple years later she went to college and got married to a man named Manekshaw Vyarawalla who during that time was working at the Times of India. His love for photography is what encouraged her love for love for photography as well. Homai’s career lasted between the years 1930 and 1970, where she did numerous work under her husband’s name because she was a woman before slowly emerging and being more independent. She captured various images which included significant meetings as well as the world war.
In the year 1970, Homai retired after losing interest in photography due to the death of her husband in the year 1969. She moved with her son who unfortunately died 10 years later. Homani later died in the year 2012 after living alone. Homani is now known not only for being India’s first female photojournalist but also for being the first photojournalist to record India’s independence and how they became freed from the control of the British. Homai’s early career proved that workplace discrimination is a real challenge which was faced a lot by women during that period. Having the share her work under her husband’s name proved how unfairly women were treated. While the majority of jobs were considered more masculine including photojournalism, she made the exception of becoming the first known female photojournalists.
According to Professor Nordell’s video Women photojournalists, “a fellow female photojournalists named Marion had faced in worse situations where she had male photographers urinate on her photography chemicals, threw spitballs at her, and put out their cigarettes in her developing trays all this simply because they refuse to accept her as a female photojournalist”. Another female photojournalists named Lynsey Addario was kidnapped while working in Libya with three other male photojournalists. While all four of them had been abused, she was subjected to sexual violence and assaulted. In a Q&A blog by Lauren Wolfe, Lynsey stated that, “I’ve been groped in a million countries and had many grab my crotch and grab my breasts. In Pakistan, they’re incredibly aggressive ...it sucks its disgusting, but it's part of the job.” Her statement alone proves the unfairness that occurred and how it turned into a normality for her rather than an issue. Another article by Paul Melcher titled Why Is a Photojournalist’s Gender Relevant to Their Work?, explained that “It appears that some people, with a highly developed social conscience, want you to know the gender of the photographer whose picture you admire.” This article shows that the trend has sprung again and that even though women have gone through the process of making themselves known, the cycle still goes by.
In the modern world, there are still careers with little to no women working in the field because it is considered to be a masculine job. Examples range between being a construction worker, prison guard, mechanic or even a firefighter. For females who do end up at a workplace which is predominantly male, they should feel empowered and strong rather than being timid and fearful because not all people are brave enough to choose such a career.
Photo by: unknown
Image Source: http://www.johbawa.com/news/remembering-homai-vyarawalla-indias-first-female-photo-journalist.html
Year Created: 1938
Principle #1:Is the image black and white or color) The image is in black and white because it is obviously old and during this period there were no colored pictures. However, I believe it still conveys the same emotions as a colored photo would have and maybe even more.
Principle #2: Subject's expression) The subject being Homai Vyarawalla, has a joyful and happy expression on her face as she captures a picture. Her expression seems genuine because she is unaware that a picture was being taken of her.
Principle #3: (Keep it Simple) This image is nice and simple. While it does have a background, it is not one that grabs the audience’s view so the main focus remains the woman and her black camera.
Why did I choose the image?: I choose this image because of the emotion it gives off. The background of the photo is of young Homai Vyarawalla on a photography assignment. Although, this is just one photo, it is clear that she loved her job and loved being a photographer just from the look on her face as she captures a picture.
Photo by: Chelsea Guglielmino
Year Created: 2017
Principle #1: (Use of Light) In this image, the amount of light used accentuates the image very well because it is a form of natural light. It makes the image very bring and gives the posters being held in the background more definition.
Principle #2: ( In or Out of focus) The image is in focus and most definitely focuses on a variety of different things. From the woman with her hands held up in front, to the flag and poster being held. Every detail of the image is shown.
Principle #3: (Color.) This image is very colorful as there are a variety of colors such as blue, pink, yellow and white which when all combined look amazing.
Why did I choose the image?: I chose this image because of the story it tells and I believe thats the role of photojournalistic images to tell a story without words. This image tells the story of various women who have had enough of sexism. It even goes as far as to tell us that both men and women participated in the walk.
Photo by: unknown
Image Source: https://conversations.e-flux.com/t/homai-vyarawalla-a-portrait-of-a-groundbreaking-photographer/6988
Year Created: 1947
Principle #1: (What feelings does the image create?.) The feeling I get from this image is tiredness. Photojournalist Homai Vyarawalla was clearly tired probably from taking pictures all day and is simply resting on a chair was she either waits or to just relax.
Principle #2: ( What in the image helped to create that feeling) In this photo, her facial expression as well as her body language is what created the feeling of tiredness. She looks like she is concentrating or thinking as she stares off.
Principle #3: (Rule of Thirds) For this image, while Homai Vyarawalla is in focus, if she was moved to the far back, left or right, it will be difficult to tell what feelings are being conveyed because her facial expressions would not be visible.
Why did I choose the image?: I chose this image because while Homai Vyarawalla was smiling in my first picture and looked like she loved her job, this photo tells the story of how tiring her job as a photojournalist must have also been as she rests to take a break with her camera resting on her shoulder.
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