Private Story
Erin Lefevre 2021 Anja Niedringhaus Application
My photographs explore the nuances of social issues, including systemic racism, disability, Indigenous rights, and more. I photograph a combination of current events in the public sector and the stories of everyday Americans that don’t always make the news. Over the past eight years, my work has taken me to every region of the country: from photographing “water protectors” in the Indigenous-led DAPL resistance movement on the Standing Rock reservation to the Black Lives Matter movement on the streets of New York City. My portfolio consists of photographs made during recent events to long-term documentary stories that best represent my intentions as a documentary photographer.
Like Anja, I photograph from the heart and strive to create images that deviate from the stereotypical. I approach every story with an empathetic and informed eye. I gravitate towards finding intimacy amidst the chaos. I search for moments that depict the present while referencing the past and foreshadowing the future. I portray people and communities in a way that reflects the realities of their daily lives, struggles, and joys. With my camera, I am unafraid to start a conversation regarding some of the most pressing issues of our time. I am inspired by Anja’s perseverance as a photojournalist- she never let any challenge deter her from reporting on critical global issues. Like Anja, I believe reporting the truth is imperative; who is behind the camera matters. I believe photography has the unique ability to both inform and evoke emotions from viewers in a way that no other medium can. I want my photographs to make people think twice about what they think they know.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
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