Photographers who left us in 2024
As we enter 2025, we pay tribute to the women photographers who passed away in 2024.
4th January: Felicia Abban (1935 – 2024)
Born in Ghana, Felicia Abban became the country’s first professional female photographer. During her sixty year career, she documented Ghanain society and history in crucial detail. She is widely recognised and acclaimed for her studio portraiture, which features both herself and the women of Accra.
5th February: Helga Paris (1938 – 2024)
Born in Goleniów (then North Germany, now in Poland) Helga Paris is known for her photography of life in the former East Germany. She used a portrait approach to buildings as if they were people. It was only later that much of her work would be exhibited; pre-unification, the authorities felt that her images portrayed the area (Halle) in a negative light.
18th March: Melinda Wickman Swearingen (1947 – 2024)
Born in Dallas, Melinda Wickman Swearingen moved to Austin, Texas, in the 1960s, where her photos helped shape a movement of country music through the iconic imagery of the likes of Willie Nelson. She became known as “The ‘Annie Leibovitz’ of outlaw country”.
An exhibition of her Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings images is on display at Texas State University until 6th July 2025.
9th May: Dee Lippingwell (1945 – 2024)
Born in Vancouver, Dee Lippingwell photographed more than 3,500 rock concerts. Starting out as a photographer for the Georgia Straight and Music Express, she went on to create enviable portfolio of the greats, including Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Queen, Alice Cooper …
13th May: Susanne Page (1938 – 2024)
Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Susanne Page developed a passion for photography early in life. Her career spanned four decades, during which she photographed the essence of the Hobo and Navajo people and culture with sensitivity and respect. Her photographs have been featured in numerous exhibitions and publications, including the Smithsonian Institution and National Geographic. Susanne’s work is celebrated for its timeless beauty and profound understanding of her subjects.
23rd May: Rosemary Laing (1959 – 2024)
Born in Brisbane, Queensland, Rosemary’s artistic practice was deeply intertwined with the Australian landscape and psyche. Her work often explored themes of memory, history, and the passage of time, frequently utilizing large-scale photographic installations and moving image.
26th May: Bertien van Manen (1935 – 2024)
Born in the Hague, Bertien van Manen began her career in fashion photography, but shifted towards documentary work in 1975. Fluency in Russian granted Bertien a unique opportunity. She was among the first documentary photographers to enter the former Soviet Union after the fall of the Iron Curtain, documenting a nation in transition.
16th November: Cathy Cade (1942 – 2024)
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, photographer and activist, Cathy Cade, helped celebrate lesbian relationships during a time when they were largely invisible or stigmatized. Her 1987 book, “A Lesbian Photo Album,” was hailed as a groundbreaking achievement by feminists and gay rights advocates. Cathy’s photographs challenged societal norms and will continue to have an impact on the fight for equality and acceptance.
13th December: Lorraine O’Grady (1934 – 2024)
Born in Boston, Lorraine O’Grady was a conceptual artist and Guerrilla Girl Alma Thomas. Rest In Power – as the Guerrilla Girls say. Photography was a key part of her practice manifested through installations and photomontage concerning race and gender. Through her work she challenged power relationships in society.
