Photographing The Women of the 116th Congress: Biz Herman and Beth Flynn

A record number of women joined the ranks of the 116th Congress in the 2018 elections, and photojournalist Elizabeth “Biz” Herman pitched the New York Times on photographing them. Along with portraitist Celeste Sloman, the duo photographed 130 or 131 women in congress in six days, and then worked with photo editors Beth Flynn and Marisa Schwartz Taylor to put together print and online editions that launched in January 2019.

In this episode of Vision Slightly Blurred recorded live at Photoville 2019, Sarah and Allen have an in-depth interview with Herman and Flynn on how the project went from inception to execution, herding cats and convincing Republicans, and the associated book that is being published by Abrams on October 15, 2019. Get your copy now!

We mention the following photographers, articles, and websites in this episode:

• Redefining Representation: The Women of the 116th Congress (website)
• The Women of the 116th Congress (book)
• Elizabeth Biz Herman (@elizabethdherman)
• Celeste Sloman (@celestesloman)
• Beth Flynn, Deputy Photo Editor, The New York Times (T: @bfnyt)
• Marisa Schwartz Taylor, Washington bureau photo editor, The New York Times (T: @marisaschwartz)
• National Portrait Gallery – Smithsonian Institution
• Fred Bierman, Design Director, The New York Times
• Andrew Sondern, Art Director, The New York Times (@standardregular)
• Wayne Kamodoi, Art Director, The New York Times (@waynefonts)
• Jane Mitchell, Designer, The New York Times (@jane_something)
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (T: @AOC)
• Nancy Pelosi (T: @SpeakerPelosi)
• Joni Ernst (T: @SenJoniErnst)

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