Carol Beckwith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carol Beckwith
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Angela Fisher (left) and Carol Beckwith (right), Hatchards, London, November 2018
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| Born | July 10, 1945 |
| Alma mater | School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
| Occupation | Photographer |
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Notable work
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Maasai, Nomads of Niger, African Ceremonies, Passages, Lamu, African Ark, Dinka |
Carol Beckwith (born July 10, 1945) is an American photographer, writer, and artist. She is famous for her photojournalism, which means she tells stories with pictures. Carol Beckwith has spent her career documenting the amazing cultures of African tribes. She often works with another photographer, Angela Fisher.
Together, Beckwith and Fisher have created 14 books. Their photos have been featured in many well-known magazines. These include National Geographic, Time, Life, and Vogue. They also show their work and give talks at museums and galleries around the world. Some famous places include The American Museum of Natural History in New York City and The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. They have also made four films about African traditions. Their work has earned them many awards, like the United Nations Award for Excellence.
Contents
Discovering Africa Through Photography
Carol Beckwith's Early Life and Travels
Carol Beckwith was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States. She went to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Goucher College. She studied Painting and Photography. After finishing college, she won a special award from the Boston Museum. This award allowed her to travel to other countries for the first time.
She spent seven months in Japan, living in a Zen temple. There, she learned about calligraphic painting. Calligraphy is a beautiful way of writing. She then traveled through Southeast Asia and New Guinea. In New Guinea, she saw a huge gathering of 90,000 Highland warriors called a "sing-sing". She also explored the Chambri Lakes by canoe. She called this experience "one of the most wonderful... experiences in my life."
Her first trip to Africa was in 1973. She visited a friend in Kenya and planned to stay for 45 days. But she loved it so much that she ended up staying for eight months! During this time, she saw a special ceremony of the Maasai people. She was so amazed that she decided to spend more time with them.
From Painting to Photography
Carol Beckwith studied photography in college. But she first wanted to be a painter. Her travels through New Guinea helped her see how powerful photography could be. She realized that there was so much exciting material to capture. She started taking photos, using her painter's eye for light, color, and how things are arranged. She wanted her photos to feel as rich and deep as a painting. Photography seemed like a better way to capture all the amazing things she saw during her travels.
Carol Beckwith's first big project was with Tepilit Ole Saitoti. He was an anthropologist and a former Maasai warrior. They met in Boston and worked together on a book called Maasai (1980). She also worked with another anthropologist, Marion van Offelen. They created Nomads of Niger (1983), a book about the Wodaabe cattle herders. Even though Carol didn't study anthropology formally, she learned a lot. By working with experts, she learned how to ask questions and explore different parts of traditional African life.
Working with Angela Fisher
Carol Beckwith first heard about Angela Fisher in 1974. They met at an exhibition of traditional African jewelry in Nairobi. They quickly discovered they both loved documenting traditional African cultures. Within just one week, they were taking pictures together at a Maasai warrior ceremony.
For over 30 years, they have worked together. They have created many books, including African Ark (1990) and African Ceremonies (1999). They also published Lamu: Kenya's Enchanted Island (2009) and Dinka (2010). They are still working on new projects, like a book about African body painting called Africa: Spirit of Paint. They are also finishing the last part of their African Ceremonies series, called African Twilight. Carol Beckwith lives in New York City, and Angela Fisher lives in London.
Books and Films
Books by Carol Beckwith
Carol Beckwith has written and co-written many books. Here are some of them:
- 1980 Maasai (with Tepilit Ole Saitoti)
- 1983 Nomads of Niger (with Marion van Offelen)
- 1990 African Ark: People and Ancient Cultures of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa (with Angela Fisher and Graham Hancock)
- 1999 African Ceremonies I and African Ceremonies II (with Angela Fisher) - These books won the United Nations "Award for Excellence."
- 2000 Passages (with Angela Fisher)
- 2002 African Ceremonies Concise (with Angela Fisher)
- 2004 Faces of Africa (with Angela Fisher)
- 2009 Lamu: Kenya's Enchanted Island (with Angela Fisher, David Coulson and Nigel Pavitt) - This book won the "Book of the Year" Award.
- 2010 Dinka: Legendary Cattle Keepers of Sudan (with Angela Fisher)
- 2012 Painted Bodies: African Body Painting, Tattoos and Scarification
- 2018 African Twilight: The Vanishing Rituals and Ceremonies of the African Continent
Films and TV Shows
Carol Beckwith has also been involved in making films and TV shows about African cultures:
- 1986 Way of the Wodaabe
- 1988 Nomads of Niger
- 1990 The Painter and the Fighter
- 1992 Millennium: Tribal Wisdom and the Modern World
Awards and Recognition
Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher have received many important awards for their work:
- 1991: Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for helping people understand different cultures.
- 1999: United Nations Award for Excellence.
- 2009: Book of the Year Award from ForeWord Reviews.
- 2009: Image Award from Sociedad Geográfica Española.
- Cherry Kearton Medal from the Royal Geographical Society of London. This was for their great photos of African cultures and rituals.
- 2010: Lowell Thomas Award from The Explorers Club. This award honors people who have made important discoveries in exploration.
- 2010: Lifetime Achievement Award from WINGS WorldQuest. This award celebrates the achievements of visionary women.
