Ep 10 • Cheriss May
About Cheriss
Cheriss May is a visual journalist and adjunct professor at Howard University, her alma mater, in Washington D.C. She was selected by Adobe in May 2019 as an Adobe education leader. Cheriss is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the media industry. She has been published in O Magazine, Time, The White House Historical Association, The New York Times, and ESPN. Cheriss is the president of Women Photojournalists of Washington (WPOW). Her work is featured in the MFON exhibit at the African American Museum in Philadelphia.
Originally from Kansas City, Mo., Cheriss currently resides in the Washington, D.C. area.
SHOW NOTES
Website: cherissmay.com
Where are you based?: Washington DC (Area)
Camera Brand: Canon + Leica
Most Influential Photographer:
Great question. There are so many photographers for different reasons and this is an abbreviated list! Theodore Gaffney, Gordon Parks, Coreen Simpson, Carrie Mae Weems, Michelle Agins, Fred Watkins, special shout for his time, knowledge and opportunities to this day! Sharon Farmer, Dawoud Bey, Idris Solomon, Laylah Amatullah Barrayn, and Adama Delphine Fawundu. All of these photographers have been an inspiration to me, I love their work especially how they tell the stories of marginalized people, and also their community and advocacy work to expose, celebrate, and promote other photographers of the African Diaspora.
Favorite Lens:
70-200mm I love connecting with those moments that are intimate, genuine, and unaware. Distance gives me an opportunity to be in someone's intimate space, without physically being in their space.
In your opinion, what is the most/least diverse field of photography?:
From what I have experienced, concert photography is the most diverse, and photojournalism/politics least diverse.
What do you consider the biggest hurdle for Black photographers today?
Access and opportunity.
Share any upcoming shows/galleries/exhibits. What are you currently promoting? Share dates and locations if possible.
My virtual exhibit "Say it LOUD" on instagram — There will be more to come with that. When the world opens back up, In Conversation: Visual Meditations on Black Masculinity exhibit national tour
Instagram: @cherissmay
Twitter: @cherissmay
