One of the contemporary women photographers whose work has made an immense contribution to photojournalism—and photography as a whole—is Susan Meiselas. Throughout her five-decade career, Meiselas has traveled the world far and wide, bringing stories of regions and communities fighting political battles or being forgotten by civilizations. To recognize and honor Meiselas’ immense talent and efforts, the Sony World Photography Awards has announced her as the recipient of their prestigious award, Outstanding Contribution to Photography.
All the images are courtesy of the artist and Sony World Photography Awards. Used with permission.
Born in Baltimore in 1948, Meiselas’ first major project, Carnival Strippers, earned her recognition right after her MA at Harvard University. In 1976, she joined Magnum Photos and became a member four years later. During this period, she documented the revolution in Nicaragua, which, even today, is one of her career-defining works. From there on, she created more bodies of work, which helped liberate the genre while bringing new perspectives and stories for viewers.
The Sony World Photography Awards’ tribute is for Meiselas’ sensitive portrayal of people as well as communities and their culture. Her works have a keen focus on women and their experiences, especially young girls around the world. Susan Meiselas has documented various issues, from girls growing up in Little Italy in New York to women at state fairs to domestic violence survivors in the UK and the human rights issue in Latin America. The award also honors how she uses the medium to not only share the issues and struggles of people but also create a vast and powerful archive that explores the lives and experiences of the individuals she documents.
Speaking about the award, Meiselas said:
I am honored to receive this Award for my contribution to the ever-expanding world of photography. Over the past 50 years, I have had the privilege of witnessing history being made, sharing the often unseen lives of those engaged in its making. The work on display invites reflection not only on the photographs themselves but also on the relationships that shaped and inspired them.
In addition to the award, five of her works will be displayed in an exhibition at Somerset House in London. These projects, created over several years, explore recurring themes in Susan Meiselas’s practice, including visibility, power, and human experiences.
- 44 Irving Street (1971): Susan Meiselas called her neighbors to her boarding house and asked them to write about themselves and what contrasts they saw in the portraits she made of them.
- Prince Street Girls (1975–1990): In this series, the photographer examines the lives of young girls and their transition to adulthood. These girls were living in Little Italy.
- Carnival Strippers (1972-75) documents the intimate lives of women who perform striptease at small-town carnivals in New England. She also captures the other side of the stage: the viewers, the show managers, and anyone participating in this show.
- Pandora’s Box (1995) depicts S&M clubs in New York and the intricate dynamics of dominance and submission in a space often veiled in mystery.
- A Room of Their Own (2015–2017) is the most recent series that highlights a women’s refuge in the UK. She uses photographs and testimonies of the survivors, combining them with the artwork they created to showcase their narrative while safeguarding their identities.
Born in Baltimore in 1948, Susan Meiselas began her career as a photographer after completing her MA in visual education at Harvard University. Initially photographing during summer breaks from teaching, her first major project, Carnival Strippers, was created in the summers of 1972-75. She became a member of Magnum Photos in 1976, and her work documenting the Nicaraguan revolution in the late 1970s remains one of her most defining contributions to photojournalism.
In the past, the Outstanding Contribution to Photography award was given to Mary Ellen Mark (2014), Martin Parr (2017), Graciela Iturbide (2021), and Sebastião Salgado (2024), people who have created pathbreaking work in photography. Seeing Meiselas join them is truly inspiring. She has repeatedly proven herself; now, she gets a stage to amplify the voices of those she photographed.
Susan Meiselas will be awarded at the annual gala ceremony on April 16, 2025, and the showcase will run from April 17 to May 5. For more information, visit the Sony World Photography Award’s website.