Crown and Country by Tammy David (June 27, 2010) 
(23 votes, average: 3.09 out of 5)
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Categories / Documentary Reportage / Human Interest / / Click here to open comments section, click again when done to close / 2 Comments
Introduction by Yumi Goto
Seven female photographers living and working in their own places, covering issues affecting their people, cultures, politics and dreams. These are seven female photographers whose work I keep my eyes on. Not only they are women, but they are working in their own space, trying to reach out, trying to raise awareness and interest outside of their community or country. Through the lens, they expose what they witness and share with the subject what they feel. Often their countries’ issues are misinterpreted or exaggerated by foreign media, journalists and photographers. These women are from Nepal, Iraq/Kurdistan, the Philippines, Palestine, Pakistan, India and Indonesia—all culturally difficult areas in which to live and work, for women and photographers.
Yumi Goto is an art and photo documentary project coordinator and curator. Her work has focused on the development of cultural exchanges that transcend borders through collaboration with local artists and NGOs in areas affected by conflict. Goto has worked as the project manager and research/development director on numerous documentary photography projects about social issues in Asia including HIV/AIDS in Cambodia, human rights in Aceh and refugee issues. She has produced the documentary slideshow presentations and exhibitions that NGOs widely use as direct advocacy tools throughout the region and in Japan.
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Our poll "A photo essay always needs a great written story" closed. 267 people voted, 28% agrees, 72% disagrees. 233 people answered our follow-up question "Are you a photographer?" 82% indicated they are, 18% said no. Initially, negative answers to question #1 were almost 100% as was the pecentage of photographers among respondants. Then, when the level of non-photographers started to rise, the percentage of people indicating good text is always essential started to rise too. This seems to indicate that non-photographers think that adding good text to your photo essays is essential. In my opinion: if you want non-photographers to dig your work, you know what to do...
Two years ago, I was shocked to learn that my law school bound friend was training to join the National beauty pageant. “Is she crazy? Is she bored? Is she broke? There is actually a beauty queen boot camp?” For a long time I had thought only pretty people who wanted fame and fortune would dare to participate in such a spectacle. And like with anything else that intrigued me, I picked up my camera and started to look for answers.
At first I took photos of the training sessions. Then the auditions until the coronation night itself and the succeeding pageants that followed.
What made this story appealing to me is the aspect of competition which showed a lot
of the human side of beauty pageants. The staunch supporters, the predominantly gay beauty queen trainers and the unlikely contestants, each have their own motivations in being part of this surreal world.
I tried hard to look for the ugly side of it but ended up seeing a lot of beautiful things like support from their hometown and camaraderie among the contestants.
Another thing I did not expect is learning more about my country just by getting to know some of these girls. Sadly, I found the ugly side when I learned of their modest ambitions, the monetary effort they put in to joining pageants to have a better life and how the Western world had influenced their perception of beauty.
Like boxing and basketball, beauty pageants are very much part of my countryʼs culture. Beauty pageants are a metaphor for Filipino culture because they glorify beauty, reflect filial and societal mores, and provide an aspirational platform that is manifestation of the countryʼs colonial history.
Tammy David (1983) lives and works in Makati City, Philippines.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tammy David, Yumi Goto. Yumi Goto said: RT @tammydavid: BITE, me! Thank you @Yumi_Goto ! @Bite_magazine features Crown & Country “Is she crazy? Is she bored?” http://bit.ly/9I9k3j [...]
Great work, Tammy.