It’s What I Do

I went to an all-women’s retreat a few weekends ago in San Diego.  I was not sure I wanted to go but I am very glad that I opted in.  It was quite an incredible event.  Really interesting women which of course spawns interesting conversations.

The mornings were focused on panels that ranged from politics to investing to philanthropy to care.  One was more thought provoking than the next.

One of the panels was a conversation with Lynsey Addario.  She had just released her book in February called It’s What I Do A Photographer’s Life of Love and War.  The book is a worthy read.  She is one of the greatest war photographers of our time who has captured conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Darfur, the Congo and other places.  She has also received the MacArthur Genius Grant and a Pulitzer Prize in international reporting.  She is a serious badass.

Being a woman journalist in this field is not only tough it is rare.  She fought her way into this profession proving her talent deserved to be there.  She hustled and with tenacity got herself to the places she knew she had to be.  She has been kidnapped, injured and through all of this found someone who she married and supported her choice of career without demands.  She also had a child and continued to do her job pregnant and after her child war born.

The book is her memoir and gives us a unique snapshot of the importance of documenting the cost of war.  I just read that the book is being made into a movie with Jennifer Lawrence playing Lynsey.  Great casting.  Read the book before you see the film.  It is a rare glimpse into a world we only see through pictures on the front cover of the NY Times.