Photography has always been a powerful tool for storytelling, allowing us to document history, express emotions, and capture fleeting moments. Throughout history, women have played a vital role in shaping the way we see the world. Yet, their contributions have often been overshadowed.

This International Women’s Day, Zontiga recognizes and celebrates the incredible women behind the lens—past, present, and future—who continue to inspire, document, and redefine the art of photography.

The Significance of International Women’s Day

Celebrated annually on March 8th, International Women’s Day is more than just a day of recognition—it’s a movement. It acknowledges the achievements of women across industries while advocating for equality, representation, and opportunity.

In photography, this means amplifying the voices of women who bring unique perspectives and narratives to the medium, ensuring they have the platforms they deserve.

The Artistic Vision of Women Photographers

Women photographers have redefined the boundaries of photography by introducing fresh perspectives, emotional depth, and nuanced storytelling. Their work is often intimate, introspective, and deeply human, exploring themes such as:

1. Intimacy & Vulnerability

Women often excel at capturing subtle emotions and human connections. Whether through portraiture or documentary photography, their images reveal deeply personal stories and moments of quiet strength.

2. Memory & Identity

Many women photographers use their work to explore personal and collective memory, examining themes of displacement, nostalgia, and cultural heritage. Their images become windows into untold stories and hidden histories.

3. Challenging Representation

For decades, women have reshaped the way subjects—especially other women—are portrayed. Their work challenges stereotypes, reclaims narratives, and presents perspectives that break away from the traditional male gaze.

4. Everyday Beauty & Poetic Simplicity

Some female artists, like Rinko Kawauchi, bring a poetic and dreamlike quality to everyday life. Her soft lighting and delicate compositions turn mundane moments into something extraordinary, proving that beauty is found in simplicity.

From documenting social change to capturing fleeting moments of daily life, women’s photography is a vast and ever-evolving landscape, filled with innovation, emotion, and vision.

Trailblazing Women Photographers

Pioneers & Legends

These women paved the way for future generations:

• Vivian Maier – The nanny-turned-photographer whose extraordinary street photography was discovered posthumously.

• Diane Arbus – Famous for her intimate portraits of marginalized communities.

• Mary Ellen Mark – Renowned for her documentary work on social issues.

• Susan Meiselas – A Magnum photographer known for her human rights and conflict photography.

• Dorothea Lange – Captured the hardships of the Great Depression, including the iconic Migrant Mother.
  
  

Contemporary Women Photographers

• Rinko Kawauchi (Japan) – Known for her poetic and dreamlike photography, capturing beauty in everyday life.

• Sakiko Nomura (Japan) – Explores themes of intimacy, shadow, and solitude through monochrome photography.

• Dayanita Singh (India) – A pioneering visual artist and bookmaker who blends photography with narrative storytelling.

• Xyza Cruz Bacani (Philippines) – A street and documentary photographer highlighting the struggles of migrant workers.
  
  

Zontiga’s Tiga Mata: Championing Women’s Voices

Zontiga’s Tiga Mata is a bi-annual Southeast Asian photography zine dedicated to emerging and diverse voices in the region. Issue 3 (Theme: Tenderness)  is led by Jessica Lim, a highly respected figure in photography.

Jessica, who is also the Director of the Angkor Photo Festival, has long been an advocate for underrepresented photographers.  It’s our hope that her editorial vision for Tiga Mata shines a light on the rich cultural depth, personal histories, and contemporary realities of Southeast Asia, reinforcing Zontiga’s commitment to inclusivity.

By working with talented women like Jessica, Zontiga continues to create platforms that amplify the voices of female photographers, ensuring their stories reach a wider audience.

Women Photographers in Southeast Asia: Stories We Connected With in 2024

This year, Zontiga had the honor of meeting and working with several incredible women photographers whose works are shaping the landscape of contemporary photography:

Terri Chong – Hosted the launch of her book Waiting. Waiting is a photographic project exploring human behavior, emotions, and expressions in moments of stasis, capturing the uncertainty, resilience, and depth of waiting

Prestine Davekhaw – Shared her journey in documenting disappearing cultures, preserving traditions through her powerful visual narratives.

Tiffany Wong – We met Tiffany in Jakarta and interviewed her about her photobook Best Comes in Pairs. Her work is a deeply personal exploration of memory, loss, and family, inspired by her late father’s journey through life.

Evelyn Teh – Hosted a sharing session for her work At the Edge of Water, a visual narrative that captures the lives of coastal fishermen in Penang, showcasing their resilience in the face of challenges.

Aziziah Diah Aprilya, or Zizi, is an Indonesian photographer whose work focuses on social, environmental, and women's issues. Her 2024 photobook, Got Your Back, explores the connection between people and their surroundings. The project reflects on themes of home, generational change, and unseen burdens through the silent stories carried on human backs 

Yoese Mariam is an Indonesian photographer whose work delves into themes of culture, resilience, and personal narratives. Zontiga launched her photobook Landep, a deeply introspective project that explores the significance of the Keris in Javanese tradition and its impact on her family’s history. Through this work, she reflects on heritage, reconciliation, and the unseen forces that shape identity and relationships.

These women, among many others, continue to push boundaries and tell powerful stories through their lens.

Looking Ahead

At Zontiga, we believe that photography should be an inclusive space where all voices—regardless of gender—are heard and celebrated. Women photographers have always been integral to the evolution of the medium, and we remain committed to providing them with the platforms, support, and recognition they deserve.

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the countless women who continue to shape photography with courage, creativity, and vision. Their stories deserve to be told, their work deserves to be seen, and their contributions deserve to be recognized—not just today, but every day.

Happy International Women’s Day to all the incredible women behind the lens!