Lynn Johnson (born 1953) is an American photographer known for her contributions to ''
National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
'', ''
Sports Illustrated'' and ''
Life'' among others. Johnson is known for photographing vanishing languages and challenges to the human condition, with a focus on Africa and Asia.
Biography
Johnson received her bachelor's degree in
photojournalism
Photojournalism is journalism that uses images to tell a news story. It usually only refers to still images, but can also refer to video used in broadcast journalism. Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches of photography (such ...
in 1975 from the
Rochester Institute of Technology. Upon graduating she became the first woman staff photographer at the ''
Pittsburgh Press'', until departing in 1982 to pursue freelance work with Black Star Publishing Company and the Aurora photo agency.
In 1984 the
University of Pittsburgh Press published her book ''Pittsburgh Moments''. She photographed
Fred Rogers several times between 1980 and the early 2000s, and her photographs of Rogers were featured in the 2018 documentary ''
Won't You Be My Neighbor?''
Johnson's photos of and working relationship with Rogers appeared in an NPR photo story titled "The Man Behind Mister Rogers, Away From The Neighborhood Of Make-Believe."
After working for nearly 30 years as a photojournalist, Johnson attended
Ohio University's School of Visual Communications in the Scripps College of Communication as a master's student and recipient of the school's Knight Fellowship, graduating in 2004.
In 2011 she donated her collection of analogue film photography to the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections at Ohio University Libraries.
Johnson is a recipient of
Golden Quill The Gielgud Award for Excellence in the Dramatic Arts, also known as the Golden Quill, is a prize established in 1994 which is presented by the America-based Shakespeare Guild to "honor Sir John and perpetuate his legacy." The award is named in hono ...
awards in photojournalism and
World Press Photo Awards in 1985, 1988 and 1992. In 2013 she was selected by her peers to win the National Geographic Photographer's Photographer award. In 2019 she was awarded the National Geographic's Eliza Scidmore Award for Outstanding Science Media, highlighting scientifically rigorous storytelling related to environmental and conservation issues.
Since 2013, Johnson has been a visiting professional at
Syracuse University
Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...
in the multimedia photography and design department (MPD).
Notable works
Winner, Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for Coverage of the Disadvantaged, 1985
Finalist, Pulitzer for Explanatory Reporting to National Geographic Magazine's ''Gender Revolution'' issue, 2017
Her work has appeared in the following books:
* ''Women of Vision: National Geographic’s Female Photographers,'' 2013
* ''Through the Lens: National Geographic Greatest Photographs,'' 2003
* ''Edward Curtis: Coming to Light,'' 2002
* ''John Muir: Nature’s Visionary,'' 2001
* ''Nature’s Medicines: Plants that Heal,'' 2000
* ''Women Photographers at National Geographic,'' 2000
* ''Women in the Material World,'' 1996
* ''Power to Heal,'' 1990
* ''Men’s Lives,'' 1984
References
External links
*
Lynn Johnson on Photo SocietyLynn Johnson Collection at Ohio University Libraries
1953 births
Living people
American photographers
National Geographic photographers
Rochester Institute of Technology alumni
21st-century American women
Ohio University alumni
Women photojournalists
American photojournalists
20th-century American women photographers
20th-century American photographers
21st-century American women photographers
21st-century American photographers
{{US-photographer-stub