National Geographic to Celebrate Women Photographers in New Exhibition

Premieres Oct. 10 in Washington, D.C., with 11 Dynamic Women Photojournalists; National Sponsor PNC to Support Traveling Exhibition and Provide Free Admission Day


WASHINGTON — “Women of Vision: National Geographic Photographers on Assignment,” a new traveling exhibition that celebrates the careers and photography of 11 talented women photojournalists who have made a significant impact with their images, will premiere at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 10. Sponsored by The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC), the multi-city tour will stop in several of the bank’s markets through 2016.

The nearly 100 images in the exhibition include provocative topics ranging from child brides in Yemen to the face of modern slavery in India to lions on the brink of extinction in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Each of the photographs reflects a unique passion and perspective and a lifetime of experience behind the lens. The images expose the impact of war, document the lives of isolated populations, celebrate cultures, reveal nature’s grace and share the majesty of landscapes near and far. The 11 photographers offer a unique vision of the world through their compelling images, many of which have appeared on the pages of National Geographic magazine. The exhibit underscores National Geographic’s history of documenting the world through photography and its ongoing commitment to supporting photographers as important storytellers who can make a difference with their work.

The exhibit chronicles the adventures and observations of a new generation of intrepid women photographers through their images and their own voices captured in video interviews and field footage. The photographers are:

• Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and MacArthur Fellow Lynsey Addario, who focuses on conflicts and human rights issues, particularly the plight of women in the Middle East.
• Former Chicago Tribune war photographer Stephanie Sinclair, known for gaining access to sensitive gender and human rights issues, who offers scenes of polygamists in the United States and child brides in Yemen.
• Documentary photographer and advocate for visual arts education Lynn Johnson, who offers a view on disease in Africa, Asia and India.
• National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and conservationist Beverly Joubert, who documents the plight of African wildlife.
• Jodi Cobb, first woman to be named White House Photographer of the Year, who has traveled to more than 60 countries for National Geographic and shares the fading traditions of Venice, the face of modern slavery in India and perspectives on beauty and love in various cultures.
• Award-winning journalist Carolyn Drake, who reveals modern life among Western China’s Uygurs and other fascinating cultures of Central Asia.
• Photojournalist Amy Toensing, known for capturing everyday lives, who shares images of the impact of Australia’s crippling climate change on its people as well as portraits of unforgettable subjects from the Jersey Shore, Puerto Rico and Sinai, Egypt.
• Photographer and documentary filmmaker Maggie Steber, who has elegantly documented striking scenes of sleep, memory and modern life from Miami to Haiti to Afghanistan and Nepal.
• Landscape photographer Diane Cook, who reveals a decade of work examining urban gardens, the U.S.-Mexico border and other scenes of modern yet enduring landscapes.
• Erika Larsen, known for capturing cultures with close ties to nature, who reveals the lives of the Sami people of northern Scandinavia.
• The youngest photographer in the exhibition, Kitra Cahana, who has documented teenage culture in the United States as well as spirituality in Latin America.

“PNC and National Geographic together will present an exhibition that captures incredible diversity, passion and adventure, but most precious of all, a shared human experience,” said Donna C. Peterman, executive vice president and chief communications officer for PNC. “We will pursue free admission days and develop educational programs that focus on families, especially mothers and daughters, to expand access to the arts and support our communities.”

“For the last decade, some of the most powerful and impactful stories have been produced by a new generation of photojournalists who are women. These women are as different as the places and the subjects they have covered, but they all share the same passion and commitment to storytelling that has come to define National Geographic,” said Kathryn Keane, vice president of National Geographic Exhibitions.

A companion book, “Women of Vision: National Geographic Photographers on Assignment,” with forewords by journalist Ann Curry and National Geographic magazine Editor in Chief Chris Johns, will serve as an illustrated exhibit catalogue. An audio tour featuring the work of all 11 women will guide guests through the galleries, highlighting on-assignment footage, photographer interviews and, of course, stunning images. The exhibition also will have multimedia content and a companion website, wovexhibition.org, with photo galleries and links to relevant National Geographic magazine stories. A diverse array of public programming and educational offerings will accompany the exhibition.



About National Geographic

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Its mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. Founded in 1888, the member-supported Society offers a community for members to get closer to explorers, connect with other members and help make a difference. The Society reaches more than 450 million people worldwide each month through National Geographic and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 10,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

About PNC

This exhibition is supported by PNC and The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (www.pnc.com). PNC is one of the nation’s largest diversified financial services organizations providing retail and business banking; residential mortgage banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management; and asset management. Follow @PNCNews on Twitter for breaking news, updates and announcements from PNC.