Trials and Triumphs : Jessie Tarbox Beals

Image : Jessie Tarbox Beals
Image Created : Early 1900s

Jessie Tarbox Beals was the first female photojournalist hired by a newspaper in the United States. She was a freelance photographer, and unlike many of her counterparts, she travelled all around the country to take photographs. She was born on Dec 23 1870 in Ontario, Canada, and later moved to United States. She was initially a teacher in Massachusetts. When she got her first camera in 1888, taking pictures was a hobby. In 1897, she married Alfred Tennyson Beals, and taught him the process for turning negatives into prints. She left teaching in 1900, and with the help of her husband, spent sometime as travelling photography team. The Buffalo Inquirer hired her as a staffphotographer in 1902. Tarbox died in 1942.

After few years, she moved to New York, and continued to work as a freelance photographer. While working as a photojournalist in New York, she also managed to run a photo studio. Due to her photographic techniques, she became popular for covering her subject in realistic and natural way. “She was featured in a 1913 The New YorkTimes article about women photographers and described a recentproject-‘photographing tenement-house conditions for the purpose of reform". She became a famous photojournalist and until her death in 1942 covered many shows, events and important subjects. Additionally, her photographs were featured in many magazines, inspiring other women to join the field of photojournalism.

Women have always been a victim of discrimination in the work place. As mentioned in the video incourse content Module 9, photojournalist Lynsey Addario was a victim of sexual violence. This occurred while on assignment in Libya when abducted with three other photographers who were male. The males only suffered physical assaults, not sexual ones like Lynsey. Such dangers are why females are overlooked for many assignments. Photojournalism has never been “sexless”; it is always a male dominated profession. The article by Mallary Jean Tenore highlights a few of the many sexist comments heard by female journalists in the workplace. Unlike their male counterparts, female photojournalists have to overcome obstacles at home and work, as well as take images, which could clearly illustrate the news or situation. Like many others, Jessie’s life was also full of obstacles. There are millions of examples where a woman’s salary is less than a male’s in a similar position.

The story of Jessie Tarbox is no different. Just as mentioned in the video about Marion Post Wolcott depending on dinner date, Jessie also have to face financial problems.  She faced financial issues after separating from her husband in 1917. With no support for herself or her 6 year old daughter, she worked whenever she could, but not as a photojournalist. In my view, she paid the highest price by letting her photojournalistic career fade in order to provide for her daughter. She never reached the same epitome of success she had known before.Being a mother myself, I can understand nothing will ever be greater than one’s children.

I believe women have to work much harder than men to complete a job, primarily due to the discrimination and aggression caused by men. During her long career, Jessie Tarbox Beals made numerous portraits of famous people, including President Theodore Roosevelt, and Mark Twain. Some of her photographs portrayed issues that many people faced. A picture of her at work and some of her iconic images are described below.



Image: Sister and Brother: New York: Tenement
Image Created: Early 1900s

I chose this image because this symbolizes the hard life of a poverty stricken family. This image is about a brother and his bigger sister. If we look closely, we can find out the condition of the house to be unsanitary and in need of repair.

Subject’s expression: Jessie has done a great job by capturing a image in natural condition. There is no humming in the facial expression in any of the subject.

Background compliments or detracts from composition: The background of the image adds an extra dimension to this image. It further solidifies the poverty of the subject’s family and also shows the poor condition of the house.

What in the image helped to create that feeling?: The facial expression of the two children and the ill condition of the house creates a feeling of helplessness. Every human should be granted food and a proper place to live. This image evokes such emotion in human beings to help others.


Image: Ainu outside two-room hut, Louisiana PurchaseExposition, Saint Louis, Missouri,
Image created: 1904

This image describes a villager’s family in Saint Louis. In the photograph, one can see the life of villagers during early 20th century. This image makes me to wonder about the vast improvement in living standard of people’s.

What feeling does this image create: This image creates a sense of sympathy in everyone towards the farmer and his family. Looking at the image also makes us wonder how a family with six members could live in such a small hut.

Rule of thirds: Jessie chose to represent the village life during her era. The family is the subject, but is in the right third of the image. The presence of woods and the hut describes the low standard of living of the people in the image.

Exposure time: Due to the slow shutter speed, the image seems to be blurred. I believe that sharpness in the image could be produced if a faster shutter speed was used.