Description: Each of the women in this series stepped out of the bounds of physical and social expectations to pursue her personal vision through photography. Some were fortunate to have come from wealthy families who fostered their interests. Others had to make their way by supporting themselves, or they found encouragement from other, more established photographers.00Many chose to avoid or leave behind the comforts of married life at a time when marriage provided the primary source of financial security for a woman. Each of them surmounted the challenges they encountered in order to pursue their dreams. I hope their true stories inspire you, and I invite you to continue documenting and recording whatever is most important in your life through the ever-evolving tool of photography, just as these women did before you.
Brief description: Maria Ausherman is a high school teacher and independent scholar residing in Stuyvesant, New York. She is the author of The Photographic Legacy of Frances Benjamin Johnston published by the University Press of Florida in 2009 as well as co-author with Patricia Jennings of Georgia O'Keeffe's Hawaii published by Koa Press in 2011. Ms. Ausherman completed her B.A. in Geography from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, received an M.A. in Cinema Studies from the City University of New York, and an M.Ed. in Social Science Education from the University of Georgia in Athens, where she also obtained a graduate certificate in historic preservation and completed coursework for a Ph.D. in Art.
Review Quotes: "A timely, well-crafted and sensitive tribute to sixteen women photographers of the late nineteenth century up to the present. The powerful and creative collection of images presented here is further complemented by the individual life stories of each of these photographers and their personal sacrifices to create this slice of history. This is authentic and clearly relevant in these current times and an important read and visual resource of history through the lens of women driven to make a difference." - Karen A. Hummel, fine artist and educator