Shutter Sisters

photography spoken here

By

Before I was brave I was camera shy.

But we speak photography here. This community, in all the ways it has grown since its birth in 2007, has been a life force for so many women photographers that I know. It is so much more than a platform, a foundation, a place of strength. Yes, it’s a community of like minds. Yes, a gathering place for those of us who not only embrace the technicalities of our equipment but also the emotions our images evoke.

We carry balance here. This is the sisterhood we feel. Day in and day out we feel welcome here, invited to the creative circle. That confidence grows tenfold as we all walk away with inspiration to shoot another day.

We speak photography here. 
We are peers.
Sisters.

In this profession/passion/career/hobby where mostly men have made the rules, we as women photographers changed the game. Years ago I found it hard to walk into my local camera shop and be taken seriously (especially if I had my child with me). That statement is simply ridiculous and yet it’s completely true. Did anyone else feel that? (2007 was only 5 years ago, sisters! Women have turned the photography world upside down, all for the better!) Now I walk with confidence knowing I am part of this revolution, the photographic revolution of sisters. Can you feel it too? We do our part each and every day we shoot photos and share images and leave comments all the while going about our busy days.

We know your lives are busy.  We know there are lots of places to visit and such little time to chat. So, today, I simply wanted to thank you. For being part of this creative circle. We may lurk, we may not have time to comment, we may be juggling jobs and kids and passions… but we feel your presence as you feel ours. This is sisterhood. This is friendship over the miles. Please know that if I could gather all of you up into one familiar city, I would. And we would shoot the breeze and share tips and recommendations for print shops. And there would be wine and ice cream and photowalks and laughter. And it would be awesome.

Today can we carry on this conversation? I’m new to town and I would love to know your favorite shops or where you find inspiration online. What’s the latest in your photographic world? What’s the latest in your camera bag? Today I want to hear what you want to talk about… what do you want to hear? Any exciting projects you’d like to share? Let’s make today an open forum for discussion. And of course, share any images or links that you are loving these days.

Comments

  1. I've had the CRAPPIEST most awful night and reading this made me so happy!! Seriously 🙂 Did someone say revolution?!? Count me in!!

  3. Yes, I used to hate going in to our local camera shop–I felt completely ignored, as if I were a bother. That did not stop me, but it was disconcerting to feel that way.

  4. Thank you for this post! It's weird but I don't remember ever personally encountering sexism until I took up photography. I was shocked to be treated with condescension and uncomfortable with what felt like a boys' club. Needless to say, I am so grateful for Shutter Sisters. As for what's new in my camera bag…my first film SLR arrived today! Can't wait to take her out for a spin tomorrow. Thanks Shutter Sisters for the daily inspiration and the supportive community you've created!

  5. I have come to realise that we are a different breed of photographers. We capture the ordinary as well as the extraordinary things which we see each day, we often shoot with spontaneity to capture fleeting moments which have touched our inner selves.

    The men seem so keen to have all the right gear in their camera bags and love to talk endlessly about the technicalities of each image….but not all of them, and I think that we women have had a huge influence on the way some men now choose to capture the world.

    I love feeling part of the sisterhood and the daily posts keep me going when the muse departs and it's hard to pick up my camera at all. So thank you sisters.

  6. I didn’t have to look very hard to find women, here with the Sisters, in blogs all over the web, and in my local photo club that want to share and connect with other women photographers. Oh, yes, women have arrived in droves to the world of photography and all it encompasses. A group of us women photographers connected so much so through our local photo club that we have formed a little mini-club to exhibit our eclectic collection of art & photography as a whole. Fun, laughter, sharing & honesty . . . that’s what women bring to photography.

    http://creativelensphotoblog.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/femmes-fotographers-debut/

  11. I am mostly a lurker here at Shutter Sisters, but I am grateful for the inspiration that this community offers and I aspire to participate more often. I seem to live in a camera store desert. The nearest "true" camera store (not an electronics store that happens to carry cameras) is an hour away, so trips are infrequent. I still prefer to shoot with film and I'm frustrated by the lack of local places to get it developed! But visiting the Shutter Sisters blog inspires me to keep shooting, no matter what the obstacle (whether it's film developing or lack of inspiration).

  12. I'd like to say a word about the frustration of finding a photo-lab that prints colours accurately.
    Before you recalibrate your monitor check out a few different photo labs, it might not be your computer's fault.

    For the longest time I thought it was my computer monitor – then I took my photo files to the in-store photo lab at Shopper's Drug Mart – and was totally blown away by the accuracy of their prints!
    Totally!
    I've been using them for almost a year and still, every time I get prints back I'm delighted.
    I don't care what they cost, it's well worth it; but their prices are right in line with other photo labs.

    Heidi

  13. I'm so very grateful for a community of women who feel the same passion as I do. I now gain self confidence from my photography!

  14. your words ring so true for me. being self-taught and going on a lot of intuition, I initially found it so easy to get the wind knocked out of my sails by the tech-heads who seem to "man" every camera shop.

    I know for certain that I would not think of myself as a photographer today had I not found my sisterhood – in this space, on flickr and through BAM. the support and the advice I have (and continue to) received every step of the way makes me feel absolutely limitless some days. other days it simply bolsters me with the confidence to hold my ground against an impertinent camera salesmen who clearly thinks I'm making a big mistake by not taking the kit lens with my dslr, opting instead for a 50mm.

    and these days, for me, I can't get enough of my parents' old nikon and the vintage tones of lomo 800iso film.

  16. Your words ring true for me! Fabulous post! The used to feel the same way about our local camera store. The first time the guy told me I didn't need to pay the deposit because I was a "regular" and then called me by my first name I thought I was going to pee myself with happiness!! These days I'm struggling to learn my mother's old Pentax K1000. HUGE learning curve coming strictly from digital. No chimping and I miss it. xo!

  17. I've only had a DSLR for 18 months or so, and in the early days I went to one shop to investigate telephoto lenses as I was going to the mountains for a week and wanted to try more landscape shots. Not being able to speak photography very well, I must have appeared to the sales person as a silly old lady who was out of her depth (I probably was a bit!) He showed me the cheapest crappiest lens, presuming I could not afford anything better, I did not feel he took me seriously, and I left feeling very put down and without making a purchase. I later found a much friendlier and helpful shop, where I bought a 70-200 f/4 IS lens, which i absolutely love. Silly man, his attitude did nothing for his business, and I have not been back.

    Like many others photography has become a passion, and for me, there is still heaps to learn. Sites like this one, and the great community of women photographers who use their hearts and minds as well as their cameras and have a willingness to share will make this journey an exciting and rewarding one. Thank you Shutter Sisters for encouraging all of us to be more creative individuals and to see the world through our own eyes.

  19. I've loved taking photos for a long time. I grew up with a dark room in our home. My Dad loved B&W photography. In the last year I have been flourishing on a new journe,y a new passion. I just wanted to say that your book pushed me to a new level and I love following you here. You all have helped me open my eyes to see what others cannot.
    Yes, we lead BUSY lives.
    But please know, WE ARE HERE! Listening and learning!
    And I am SO THANKFUL for all of you AWESOME women of photography!

  21. Firstly sorry for the length of this post.
    I always feel a little weird posting on this site as I am a 28 year old man. I always tell anyone who will listen that you should base your judgements on the individual not on if they are male, female young old black or white. It's not your sex, creed, race, or religion that makes a person but the individual thoughts and actions of the said person.
    I know that I have my eldest sister and best friend in the world to thank for this outlook in life.

    It is horrible when people are judged based upon their sex alone this includes men as well as women, just like racism gender discrimination is inherently wrong. I know the fact that I am a man posting on a female orientated website I am already judged.

    I continue to post on here because like everyone else I love the work and articles produced on this site, Art for me does not lose its value when I find out it's made by a woman or a man. I don't care simple as that if a piece of art is good it stands on its own merit.

    Because I believe in judging the individual and want to practise what I preach I will continue posting on this site not because I want to take over but because I love photography I love what this website produces I love the comments from other posters and it makes me feel part of a community of photographers something I don’t have in my life.

    My 2 favourite painters are Edvard Munch and Frida Kahlo I couldn't care less about gender it's their painting techniques and subject matters that interest me. My two favourite photographers are Cindy Sherman (especially her black and white work) and Andre Kertesz.

    This is the first post from the ShutterSisters that I kind of disagree with sorry. Women haven't just started changing things women have been prominent throughout history incduding major historical events WWII for example. some artists Vivian Maier, Cindy Sherman, Frida Kahlo, Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Alice Maher, louise bourgeois, Georgia O’Keefe, Dorthea Lange, Tamara de Lampicka, Paula Rego, Jenny Saville. The amount of women writers Mary Shelly Emily Dickinson, the Bronte sisters, Sylvia Plait, Patti Smith (whose writing had a profound influence on my own writing) to name a few all fantastic. It's a shame that they all have to be packaged as "strong women" they're not they're ordinary women who had fears and doubts some had/have kids and all went/go shopping just like everyone else men included.

    I wash clothes I read bedtime stories I cook and bake but that doesn’t matter because I am a man so by default I’m a lout who hates women and tries to put them down any chance I get.

    My favourite camera is a canon FTb 35mm couldn't care less about Iphones or Photoshop to the extent that in some cases it has cost me jobs. The gender divide I’m sorry but pisses me off if you are that shallow to judge someone or something because they are a man or woman or it was made by a man or women then there is something wrong with you.

    No doubt as I am not very fluent with words I’m going to get some backlash for this post as some people won't understand my point. Sorry if I offend anyone but it's what I think.

    As well as being a man,
    I love animals, I am Vegan, I read constantly from books on language, Ethology Art Stephen king everything if you lend it me I will read it. I hate the majority of what is on the magazine shelf from celebrity gossip to you can look like this model, get Brad Pitts abs, to the bile that’s in most newspapers.
    I play chess, Guitar, Irish Flute as well as the fiddle badly. I can't drive trying for years it escapes me, actually anything to do with cars bores me, I love walking everywhere, I grow a lot of vegetables and fruits too many to list. I cannot sing even though the rest of my family including cousins, aunts and uncles can, I'm talking Mario Lanza good not a little drunken Karaoke, I like to swim, I hate football but I will sit and watch it with my father because he likes it, I love music especially Otis Redding and Blues Artists such as Skip James and Bukka White.
    I don't get the fascination with musicals but go to them anyway because my sisters like them.

    I believe that humanity has a lot to offer and is inherently kind and nurturing even if there are a few idiots in the world who try and wreck it.

    I believe in what the beetles said "Love is all you need" but also education is key and a library card is a powerful thing to own.

    To get to the point I am not just a man just like the majority of the shutter sister readers are not just women I am a person who does the best I can in a world filled with social pressures and loves to put people in metaphorical boxes and categories to promote fraudulent stereotypes.

    I will raise my own daughter to believe that she is an individual who with determination and self belief can achieve whatever she wishes.

    Take care of one another

    John

  22. Meredith, what a great post. This community has made me, a newbie to photography, feel welcome, loved and appreciated. I will never forget when Tracey chose one of my one word project pictures to be featured on the site (http://traceyclark.com/shuttersisters/home/2010/4/30/holding-on.html). I couldn't believe it — I literally was beaming for days. I continue to draw inspiration from this group on flickr.

    These days, I find I like a mix: of words and pictures. http://www.xantheberkeley.com/ is one of my favourite sites — her time capsules are amazing!

    Love to all.

  23. wow, this post really hit home… from 1984 -1994 I managed a retail camera shop – film processing and selling film cameras & equipment. Yeah, can you imagine a woman selling cameras to men, being drilled for the technical stuff, and half the time I could see in their eyes they would rather discuss their possible purchase with my punk male assistant manager – the other half the time I could swear they only worked with me because I was cuter than him 😉 Personally, it made me work even harder for the sale. In return it did wonders for my confidence as a woman, manager, and photographer. Then I switched careers completely, later had kids, survived the switch to digital, and now I'm a stay at home schooling mom. That's when photography found me again and I found Shutter Sisters – what a blessing and encouragement this place and these women (even some men 😉 have been! Thank you!
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/6773199330/in/photostream/

  24. it takes a village to raise….well to raise a photographer.
    we all need the support and love of each other…..yes to sisterhood !!

    i do have to say though, the men at our camera shop are wonderful and patient and spend hours teaching me….i'm a lucky girl i guess 🙂

    let's raise our glasses to each other in praise of sisterhood !!

  25. I would like to say one thing to John…there's nothing for you to "disagree" with here. This blog entry is about celebrating how far we as female photographers have come, and if you are as open-minded as you claim to be, why would you "disagree?" And while I appreciate you naming all the female artists who have made their mark on this world, there are hundreds of male artists who are just as famous for every one woman. That's a fact, not a statistic that I made up as an excuse to male bash.

    It's hard for women sometimes to feel entitled to take up space. Not only are we socialized this way, but society reinforces this notion in subtle, often covert, ways every day. I am lucky. I've never had the experience of being overtly condescended to by a male salesmen when I walk into a camera store. Probably because I live in a very liberal affluent suburb where money talks. But I have had the experience of a male salesperson trying to sell me everything in the store BECAUSE he thinks I don't know any better. I've had the experience of politely saying "no thank you" many many times without being heard, and then getting frustrated and raising my voice "NO THANK YOU" just to be told I "didn't have to raise my voice." I'm curious John, does that happen to you when you go into a camera store?

    I've also had the experience of being constantly talked over by male camera salesmen despite the fact that I've already conducted thorough research on the product I was shopping for and know EXACTLY what I want. And perhaps you've had that experience too, but I think it happens more for women. We are often treated like we either don't know what we want or are weak-willed consumers who can easily be talked into something else.

    All I have to do is look at the length of your comment to note you don't seem to have a problem taking up space. It's not a judgement, but merely an observation. Part of me questions why you feel compelled to go on and on about how open-minded you are and how you don't discriminate based on gender or race or age but I guess that's beside the point. I can say that neither do we. None of that has anything to do with the author's idea of celebrating how far we've come as female photographers. That's ours. We've earned it. And we're going to take up that space. Today. And hopefully for many days to come.

  26. bravo jessie
    you made my point better than i could have
    and you are sooo right
    while reading your reply i suddenly remembered sitting on a train many many years ago, wearing a button with: the future is female. a guy across from me had been staring at me for a long time and made me feel very uncomfortable (what's he gawking at, do i look weird or something?)
    i got up to move to another seat and then he suddenly said: but what about us?
    i had been wearing my button for years by then and had become totally unaware of it, so at first i didn't understand what he was going on about. when it dawned on me, i was flabbergasted
    how is it possible that when women affirm themselves, take up space, claim a future, men immediately think it means that it will automatically cost them theirs? that a female future implies lack of a male one? that the two are mutually exclusive, cannot coexist? and most of all, that when i make a statement about women i am obliged to address men as well…..
    I so much loved this post, meredith, because i too have come such a long way and shutter sisters has been such an inspiring and supportive community….
    I remember getting my first digital camera in 2006, a very cheap one, and taking my first class at the community center, which was filled with men schlepping around big camera bags full of lenses, filters and tripods, talking about focal range, crop factor and chromatic aberration. I didn't finish that class…..
    i am so incredibly fortunate to have found this supportive community of female photographers! it has given my creative photography journey an incredible boost, so thank you all!!!
    http://exploringwithmycamera.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-far-ive-come-yesterdays-shutter.html

  27. I sort of lost my film mojo due to camera or user malfunction and I realized today partly from reading this that I have been embarrassed to go to my camera store to ask for help. They have always been nice and I think they genuinely like to see people shooting film so I know this feeling comes from me. Must change this!

  28. You missed my point. I agree that there are hundreds of male artists but there are also hundreds of female artists unfortunately history is written by people of power so people who should be written about are not both men and women.

    When I went to type my original post I though don't bother I should have gone with my initial thought. I never said don't be proud I meant why box yourselves as a female photographer instead just claim the title photographer It's as if ye are apologising when ye don‘t need to. Why do ye not want to belong to a wider community?
    That was what I meant I didn't mean any offence what I'm asking is what do ye get out of claiming the role as female photographer over photographer?

    By the way men get talked down to all the time too, I was in my local Photo shop Jessops about 2 years back on the look out for my first Dslr I asked the guy what a mega pixel was he scoffed and tried to sell me a point and shoot. The guys a butthead all he achieved by this is I left came back the next day dealt with an older man who was very nice and explained it all to me he ended up making a sale of over a grand and I left happy.

    When I walk into a bank I get talked down to all the time by men and women why because I have long hair and a beard therefore I must have no money or any concept of how to save. It doesn’t bother me because that’s their ignorance I’m secure enough in myself to not let it get to me and when I need help it doesn‘t bother me to ask because that‘s how you learn if they want to be snotty about it that‘s their problem.

    That is my point not all men are buttheads one guy was the other guy wasn't therefore judge the individual. Not all women are enlightened and some can be just as big of buttheads as the guy I mentioned, I don't then say all women are horrible it just doesn't seem fair to label the collective because of one.

    When I moved from Ireland to England with my family we would see signs attached to the local pubs and shop windows saying No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish the last sign around that area was taken down in 1996. These are minority backwards thinking humans, I could have said all English people are racists but that's simply not true. Last year I went into have a meal with my family in a pub/restaurant when we visited a city the manager comes over and says we don't serve Irish that's in 2011! I told him fine walked next door had a lovely meal.
    That’s my point the individual has to be judged not the collective. I am sure ye have lots of stories too.

    By the way I never said I was open minded, I believe in God, to some that’s not very open minded.

    The guy staring at the badge I don't know what that was about, Maybe he was not so secure in his own future and wanted reassurance that he would be okay too I don't know.

    I don't think I explained very well forget it I didn't mean any offence enjoy the rest of your day and I hope that ye continue to produce excellent work.

    John

  29. I can kind of get Johns point although I think he is right he does not explain himself well hence the long post to get to one point. My problem is with Jessies response by being short with him you have just reiterated his point of being judged for posting on a female orientated website. At the end of the day If John wanted to buy your work you would take his money right? So what does it matter.

    He clearly likes the website I have seen a few of his comments before and they are always encouraging he raises one point badly but still it’s a point and he gets shot down. The space comment was uncalled for.

    By Jessies rule men should be seen not heard you know some men have the same rule about women.

  30. "Last year I went into have a meal with my family in a pub/restaurant when we visited a city the manager comes over and says we don't serve Irish that's in 2011! I told him fine walked next door had a lovely meal."

    I am sorry, John, but I just don't believe this. I am an Irishwoman of nearly 70, living in England for 48 years, and this scenario just would not happen in 2011. Apart from the laws against racism, of which everyone is aware, no restateur is going to turn custom away in this time of financial difficulty.

    I think you have introduced a sour note into a very beautiful and positive conversation and, almost like reverse psychology, your real meaning is concealed in the apparently sympathetic words you are typing.

    I salute the Shutter Sisters (one and all) and apologise for making my first contribution a negative one, but I felt very strongly about this – to me – misrepresentation.

  31. This is my last post because clearly i'm not liked here.

    It is true with the rise of Travelling Irish in the particular city people were turning away customers for fear of things "kicking off" people with a slight accent where targeted. 48 years without a problem thats fantastic my aunty has lived roughly the same amount of years too in London she too has never had a problem where she lives. Thats really fanatastic for you, but donot call me a liar because i'm not. I did know about race laws but are you seriously telling me you are going to go to the bother at 6pm in the evening to find a police man complain then eat in a restaurant where you have forced them to serve you, they are about to prepare your food? seriously?

    I did apolgise before if I had upset people again I apolgise. Forget it i'll do as as Kaylee said and shut my mouth.

    Goodbye

  32. John I didn’t say you should shut your mouth I was referring to Jessie’s post please read again.

    Jacqui J I don’t think he was using reverse psychology I think he was using his own life experiences to try and make a point but again he is making it badly. It is very wrong of you to call him a liar you don’t know anything about him or his experiences. My boyfriend is from Poland he lived in the UK for a year and received a broken jaw in Glasgow from a man who told him “That’s for taking our jobs” my boyfriend is not a liar so why call John a liar? Racism does exist even in England.

    This has all gotten very silly I think we need to draw a line under this and move on.

    I hope you continue to visit the website John

  33. i'm on inspiration overload right now. i almost feel like i can't get on instagram for a teeny bit because my head might explode from the awesomeness. and there was just a photography conference here in town which was killer and i just need more hours in the day to try everything i learned and today i sat in on an online photography seminar that blew my mind and i kinda feel like i just need to stop looking and listening and just shoot a bit and see if i've absorbed anything that has been coming my way.

    your writing is so incredibly good.

  34. Wonderful post! Got me thinking… I've been seriously dabbling in photography since 1979. At that time I was 20 years old, working in the production area of a newspaper and mentored by a wonderful photographer. There was one shop in that small town and though the photographer that owned the place was condescending he did let me open an account and start growing my system but I'm sure it was only because of my connections. After a decade or so, life got in the way… I went back to school and became a nurse, then spent all my time working. I continued to shoot here and there, but nothing like I had. In 2004 my husband bought me a DSLR and I began learning the digital world. Now I'm shooting with a micro 4/3 system and my passion has been reignited. The only attitude I have encountered lately was from a 20-something kid at the photography shop when I told him I was looking for another lens. I had 2 zooms in my kit – he asked 'why would you need anything more?' He was stunned when I told him my kit lenses were not fast enough, the bokeh wasn't there the images weren't as sharp on the edges, etc. The older guys in the place stood back and grinned. Every time I've been in there since he's gone the opposite direction and one of the older (my age) guys has been happy to talk shop and help me. Bet he doesn't make that assumption again!

  35. Kaylee–

    You wrote: "By Jessie's rule men should be seen not heard you know some men have the same rule about women."

    I honestly don't even know what that comment means. No idea. None. I wish it made a semblance of sense to me so I could write an articulate response to it, but it just doesn't. It's not logical or based on anything I tangibly said. I guess all I can say is that I don't have any generalized "rules" and I don't feel that way about men…not about my son, or my partner (who is male). It seems like if anyone is guilty of generalizing it's you.

    I did, however, make a statement (that referenced the blog entry) about the lack of space that women sometimes feel entitled to take up in the world, and of the lack of space they are sometimes afforded by men. That's not a judgment of men—merely a social observation. I then used the example of the camera store to illustrate my point. The *only* statement I made about John was my perception that he didn't seem to have difficulty taking up space and I based this on the length of his response. There was no judgement in that either…a point I actually WROTE in my original response.

    But I did question why a male commenter would need to prattle on about how open-minded and accepting he is in a predominantly female space unless he was feeling attacked or on the defensive. And I also didn't understand how anything that Meredith wrote in her entry could have warranted a response like that. I was confused….not judgmental, confused.

    I also have absolutely no issues with him commenting – he has as much of a right to be here as any of us does. What "rubbed me the wrong way" was how he began his comment by saying something along the lines of how he disagreed with what Meredith wrote. And it was hard for me to understand how he could simultaneously be so open-minded and accepting and then disagree with a female blogger on a website called SHUTTER SISTERS whose point is to celebrate the achievements of female photographers. I just didn't see that there was anything to disagree with. All she was saying was, "Hey look how far we've come!" And it seems contradictory if a person is as "open-minded" as John claims to be that he wouldn't be celebrating that right along with us.

    It is often my experience that people who are open-minded and accepting often don't need to tell or convince others that they are like that unless they feel they have something to prove. I'm not saying John does necessarily. I guess I implied it (?) perhaps because I didn't (and still don't) really understand: (A) what Meredith wrote that he felt he needed to disagree with and (B) why he had to write so much about how accepting and open-minded he was. It didn't feel necessary or warranted in that moment, and it had turned into something else.

    To me, it felt like this positive and affirming point Meredith was trying to make in her blog entry (which she did very well I might add) was being turned into a point of contention by someone who wasn't necessarily the intended audience of the message. If she was making ANY sort of slanderous statement about men or male photographers then by all means I might understand a little why John felt the need to immediately "disagree" with what she was saying. But since the predominant audience here is women and many of the themes addressed here are OUR experiences as female photographers, then it seems par for the course to then take a moment to reflect on how far we've come without a male reader taking issue with it. Celebrating our accomplishments is not in any way taking something away from men. At the end of the day, he's choosing to read this blog, with all its content, first and foremost, he says, because it's a good photography blog. But it seems like he wants to make the fact that it's geared at a community of women a non-issue, and you can't really minimize that fact when so much of the content is written by us and for us.

    And that's not the same thing as saying that men aren't welcome here. However, it's more than okay that, as women, we have a safe space like this to claim as our own. Because just as Meredith talked about in her blog, it wasn't that long ago that we weren't being treated as the "equals" of men in camera stores across the country. It seemed like he was coming to a website that's directed at women and then taking issue with how we're celebrating our power and accomplishments, and that felt inherently wrong to me and so I spoke up. I feel like it isn't taking anything from John if she wants to take a moment to point out how far we've come, so why wouldn't he just say "Kudos ladies" especially since he's such a worldly open-minded guy.

    Okay I've officially spent way more time engaging in this back and forth then I ever thought I would. There was just something so over-the-top about being told that I have a "rule that men should be seen and not heard" that was incredibly offensive to me, which is why I wrote this.

    At the end of the day, I still feel like we as women should be proud of how far we've come as photographers and excited about where we're heading. There's nothing wrong with sisters celebrating those accomplishments with one another. And us doing that is not any sort of statement about men or a negative reflection on them. One has nothing to do with the other. I feel like that kind of celebration and encouragement was the sentiment of Meredith's original blog entry and I'm always elated to see the validation and support that we all are able to provide each other in this space. That's ours. And I should hope that anyone who reads this blog is supportive of this too in all its forms…regardless of their gender.

  36. As a female and a photographer I will leave you with what I believe John was getting at. Why should we use the title “female photographer” unless we are warning people that they are about to receive an inferior product. Is my work not as good as Johns? If we cling to the notion that we need to constantly put female in the title then people will only ever see it as something produced by women, this is dangerous because as you have pointed out the world is not open minded and everyone is not judged fairly, something that this entire argument I think has proven.

    By also having exclusive clubs we rule out any true growth because we are excluding intelligence and creativity based upon gender or whatever other exclusion.
    Bare in mind John chastises Gender discrimination for both sexes so by this comment he does not agree with men only clubs either.

    I believe John wasn't trying to assert his ’open mindedness’ but rather was trying to show he has other labels for example he mentions he is Vegan I assume there are not many people who are Vegan myself included but there certainly will be male and females alike who can claim that “box” as John described it. By looking for things that unite us instead of things that divide us we can build on what John described as a “wider community”. But as I repeatedly mentioned and he does too in fact he apologises for it in a number of posts he explained his point badly. I play chess so does John that’s a building block and lets not forget we all love photography that’s why we are here in the first place.

    I assume that John is here because he likes the work, he isn’t attracted to the female community aspect something which I and I assume others were. If you search Google you will see there really are no male community photography websites in fact most search comes up with soft porn, Football and fast car orientate sites. John again asserts he doesn’t like cars or football so where do men like John go for intelligent and thought provoking artistic websites? It’s certain he has turned to a female orientated website because there isn’t a male equivalent. This is made perfectly clear in his comment to rakusribut who talks about a man staring at her the future is female badge:

    “ The guy staring at the badge I don't know what that was about, Maybe he was not so secure in his own future and wanted reassurance that he would be okay too I don't know."

    So John posts ask why can’t we be equal for the sake of a wider community.

    I agree with you Jessie we have all spent enough time on this. I really liked your last comments by the way. Especially about how far we have come I also agree with John humanity is inherently kind and nurturing especially on the Shutter Sisters site.

    I hope John comes back to read your last post as I believe you really got your point across. I am sorry if I hurt your feelings I did not mean too, I think everyone is so eager to get their point across feelings are getting trampled on.