“I
think many times news organizations, whether it's for lack of resources or
something else, cover the headlines and don't follow up, even though the story
continues for the people living there - they can't leave. I think it's critical
that they do these follow-up stories to realize that there is still suffering,
and the need is dire.” – Carol Guzy
Born on this date in 1956, Guzy has
had a stellar career in both documenting the headlines and doing follow-up
reporting as a news photographer. Working for The Washington Post, she
has won a remarkable 4 Pulitzer Prizes —one of only 4 people to do
so, and the only journalist with that achievement. 
The first woman to win the “Newspaper
Photographer of the Year” Award from the National Press Photographers
Association, Guzy didn’t start out hoping to be a news photographer. In fact, this Bethlehem, PA, native planned
to be a nurse. Then someone handed her a
camera and the rest, as they say…
“The nursing program gave me more
than a degree,” she said. “It helped me
gain an understanding of human suffering and an incredible sensitivity to it. I
know that without this background, my photography would have a totally
different edge.” With it, she’s brought
us up close and personal to images of both anguish and joy.
“When I'm photographing, I think -
like any rescue worker who deals with tragedy - you have to have some
protective barrier around your heart so you can do your job,” she said. “You
tend to have a delayed reaction to things. I feel things more deeply after I
put the camera down.”
And seeing her
images, the world does too.
View Guzy’s
remarkable photos at:
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