my thoughts on photography

carol allen storey

I knew from the beginning when I embarked on my photographic career that I wanted to photograph people and create documentary essays on serious social and political situations, with an emphasis on humanitarian issues, especially amongst women, children and the disenfranchised.

My images are intimate, personal; they are about issues and people I deeply care about. I believe photographs may not be capable of doing the moral work for us, but they can trigger the process of social consciousness.

Photographing harsh humanitarian issues, and tyranny that provoke debate is my aim. Since graduating Central St Martins Master Photography in 2000, I have combined my photographic practice with assignments for in-depth photo essays on behalf of charities here in the UK and the US, along with commissions for corporate installations and commercial premises. Two of my photo essays culminated in solo exhibitions here in the UK with ‘the Savagery & Poetry of Africa’ at the Proud Gallery for ‘WWF’ and ‘Anything is Possible’ at the AOP on behalf of ‘Spirituality for Kids’.

‘ANGELS at the edge of darkness’ is my current personal project. It focuses on the women and children managing the AIDS pandemic in Africa illustrating their courage and dignity and the horrific impact of unabated poverty as this unrelentless killer grows exponentially. Over the past four years I have made 6 self-funded trips to Sub-Sahara Africa to create diverse stories of the critical issues. Recently I was invited by the Frontline Club to present this work.

In my humble opinion, photojournalism can be a potent tool like no other in eliciting every emotional response from laughter to tears. It profoundly has the capacity to turn the tide of the human condition, to be a voice for the voiceless, to inform, be a moral conscience to the global village to take positive action against social injustices.

Margaret Mead once said: 

“A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Perhaps that is what we dedicated photojournalists endeavour through our imagery.

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Orphans, Civil rights, HIV/AIDS, Pandemics, Education, Healthcare access, Poverty, stigma, isolation, human rights, fear, child abuse

UNICEF, Save the Children, WWF

Carol Allen Storey

www.castorey.com

carol@castorey.com

Carol Allen Storey Biography

carol allen storey

BIOGRAPHY

Carol Allen Storey is a dedicated photojournalist specialising in chronicling complex humanitarian and social issues, especially amongst women and children.

In 2009 she was appointed a UNICEF ambassador. Carol was a finalist in the Taylor-Wessing Portrait Awards exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery 2009, a finalist for social documentary 2008 and 2009 New York Photography Festival. In 2008 she was selected for the Press Photographer’s Year exhibition and book. Carol was also a finalist three years running, 2008-2010 International Spider Awards. Recently she was shortlisted for the 2011 One Life International Portfolio Award.

 Her solo exhibitions include: ‘Anything is Possible’ at the Association of Photographers Gallery 2009 in London, on behalf of the international charity, Spirituality for Kids’. ‘The Vanishing Assets of Africa’ in 2007 - A one year solo installation at the Inmarsat Gallery culminating in an auction by Sothebys benefiting the charity, Télécoms Sans Frontières. In 2004 a commission from WWF culminated in the exhibition ‘The Savagery and Poetry of Africa’ at the Proud Gallery, London.

Storey’s personal project the last four years, ANGELS at the edge of darkness focuses on the women and children managing the AIDS pandemic in Africa, illustrating their courage and dignity and the horrific impact of unabated poverty as this unrelentless killer grows exponentially. Carol is currently creating a photographic journal, working with the ’Save the Children’ charity, illuminating the plight of British children living at the edge of society.